Chief Chanagimire Durall
Title
Chief Chanagimire Durall
Format
Video
Subject
Chief Chanagimire Durall
Description
This is an interview based on the first female police chief- Chanagimire Durall-of Xavier University of Louisiana
Creator
Domonic Archie Jr.
Source
My Nola, My Story via YouTube
Publisher
Mass Communications Department at the Xavier University of Louisiana
Date
December 2, 2020
Contributor
Domonic D. Archie Jr.
Rights
My Nola, My Story
Relation
My Nola, My Story, 2020
Language
English
Type
Imovie, Video
Identifier
https://youtu.be/y6qh895cJ5g
Coverage
A Digital Humanities project by Xavier University of Louisiana's Mass Communication department students, led by Dr. Shearon Roberts
Original Format
Transcription
Domonic: Can you start off by telling us a little bit about yourself ?
Chief Durall: Um. let's see I started off my university career Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. I was there for about five and a half years, I raised from the ranks of police officer made sergeant, I was a night patrol sergeant. They're located in a very urban area, 25,000 students so our call for service was pretty high especially on a Friday or Saturday, then I got the opportunity to go to Norfolk State University, which is an HBCU also in Virginia and there student population is about 6,000, so I made the rank of Lieutenant and went to Norfolk State. I was there about two years, umm ultimately my goal was become a chief of police, so when the opportunity for Xavier came up I couldn't say no. I mean I'm a Saints fan, I'm from New Liberia, so it kinda brought me kinda close to home, so I couldn't turn down that opportunity especially to work at you know a top rank university, for the pharmacy program, as well as it being catholic and HBCU, I mean not to many can say they work for a place like this. The I happen to be the first African American Chief of police, so I kinda made history coming here. So that was exciting
Domonic: Why law enforcement ?
Chief Durall: UM, like I said my dad was in law enforcement, so I think he kinda put that in my head and it just kinda stuck with me. And I thought about the medical field but I don't like blood and needles, so that was kinda easy, to cross of my career list of things to do. Well like I said, policing made it so exciting, everyday he cam home, he had a different story to tell and I was like, "well that's good I don't wanna go to work and have the same, everyday be the same, I wanted everyday to be different." And certainly sitting in this chief has not changed that, umm, i have people come to my door everyday with something different.
Domonic: How does it feel to be the first female chief ?
Chief Durall: It's exciting, I mean it's groundbreaking, its sad that it took so long for there to be a first female. However, it seems likes umm, because the relationships and because of the publicity that has shined the negative spotlight on law enforcement, umm theres a feeling and need to put a umm face of color on the police department so it looks like you know there's a softer presentation to the relationship with the community. But um I mean I'm excited, it's always exciting when your the first of anything because you can claim " I was first" wether I was being chief or anything. The first to got to college or anything like that is monumental when you claim to be the first.
Domonic: What are some of the obstacles you face being a black woman in your line of duty?
Chief Durall: Well, umm, traditionally law enforcement, and i tell people all the time, was not designed for us. Meaning it wasn't designed for us to work i law enforcement. It was created to stop slaves from getting away from their master, so thats how law enforcement started. So it heart-warming that we have evolved from that even though that foundation is there we need to recognize in the institution to be able to serve the communities that um are we're serving today. So I mean, I've had experiences with racism, I've had experiences with unconscious bias and all those things and it's unfortunate that were told we're told that we bare to get through it versus you know our counterparts are not told that. That not going to happen to them. So thats why the conversation is important to have those uncomfortable, powerful conversations to have us realize our biases, and our racism, and inequities and injustices in society, and thats something the only way we're going to get through being able to police and work with the community that we serve. It's not about what we wanna do in the duties as a police officer, it's about what the community needs us to do. Cause every community is different, they might have burglaries in one community and trash problems in another. So that's very difficult. So we have to listen to those nuances of each community and adjust our police.
Domonic: In what ways do you seek to change or improve the community's safety
Chief Durall: Umm, getting the students more involved in their safety. I mean, the police department can certainly put out cars, people on bikes however, the students have to change their mindset coming from home and having their parents make safety decisions for them, versus coming on campus and mom and dad aren't there, so now it's your responsibility to make those safety decisions for you. A lot of people -student and parents- always ask " what are you going to do to keep my child safe?", Well imma try to educate your child and make sure your child has more situational awareness so they're aware of whats going on. Most of the time there is situations and they feel like something not quite right, they need to pay attention to that and get out of that situation. So thats helpful and the community helping us, help them stay safe, so it's not strictly a responsibility of the police department, we do share that responsibility.
Chief Durall: Um. let's see I started off my university career Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. I was there for about five and a half years, I raised from the ranks of police officer made sergeant, I was a night patrol sergeant. They're located in a very urban area, 25,000 students so our call for service was pretty high especially on a Friday or Saturday, then I got the opportunity to go to Norfolk State University, which is an HBCU also in Virginia and there student population is about 6,000, so I made the rank of Lieutenant and went to Norfolk State. I was there about two years, umm ultimately my goal was become a chief of police, so when the opportunity for Xavier came up I couldn't say no. I mean I'm a Saints fan, I'm from New Liberia, so it kinda brought me kinda close to home, so I couldn't turn down that opportunity especially to work at you know a top rank university, for the pharmacy program, as well as it being catholic and HBCU, I mean not to many can say they work for a place like this. The I happen to be the first African American Chief of police, so I kinda made history coming here. So that was exciting
Domonic: Why law enforcement ?
Chief Durall: UM, like I said my dad was in law enforcement, so I think he kinda put that in my head and it just kinda stuck with me. And I thought about the medical field but I don't like blood and needles, so that was kinda easy, to cross of my career list of things to do. Well like I said, policing made it so exciting, everyday he cam home, he had a different story to tell and I was like, "well that's good I don't wanna go to work and have the same, everyday be the same, I wanted everyday to be different." And certainly sitting in this chief has not changed that, umm, i have people come to my door everyday with something different.
Domonic: How does it feel to be the first female chief ?
Chief Durall: It's exciting, I mean it's groundbreaking, its sad that it took so long for there to be a first female. However, it seems likes umm, because the relationships and because of the publicity that has shined the negative spotlight on law enforcement, umm theres a feeling and need to put a umm face of color on the police department so it looks like you know there's a softer presentation to the relationship with the community. But um I mean I'm excited, it's always exciting when your the first of anything because you can claim " I was first" wether I was being chief or anything. The first to got to college or anything like that is monumental when you claim to be the first.
Domonic: What are some of the obstacles you face being a black woman in your line of duty?
Chief Durall: Well, umm, traditionally law enforcement, and i tell people all the time, was not designed for us. Meaning it wasn't designed for us to work i law enforcement. It was created to stop slaves from getting away from their master, so thats how law enforcement started. So it heart-warming that we have evolved from that even though that foundation is there we need to recognize in the institution to be able to serve the communities that um are we're serving today. So I mean, I've had experiences with racism, I've had experiences with unconscious bias and all those things and it's unfortunate that were told we're told that we bare to get through it versus you know our counterparts are not told that. That not going to happen to them. So thats why the conversation is important to have those uncomfortable, powerful conversations to have us realize our biases, and our racism, and inequities and injustices in society, and thats something the only way we're going to get through being able to police and work with the community that we serve. It's not about what we wanna do in the duties as a police officer, it's about what the community needs us to do. Cause every community is different, they might have burglaries in one community and trash problems in another. So that's very difficult. So we have to listen to those nuances of each community and adjust our police.
Domonic: In what ways do you seek to change or improve the community's safety
Chief Durall: Umm, getting the students more involved in their safety. I mean, the police department can certainly put out cars, people on bikes however, the students have to change their mindset coming from home and having their parents make safety decisions for them, versus coming on campus and mom and dad aren't there, so now it's your responsibility to make those safety decisions for you. A lot of people -student and parents- always ask " what are you going to do to keep my child safe?", Well imma try to educate your child and make sure your child has more situational awareness so they're aware of whats going on. Most of the time there is situations and they feel like something not quite right, they need to pay attention to that and get out of that situation. So thats helpful and the community helping us, help them stay safe, so it's not strictly a responsibility of the police department, we do share that responsibility.
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