Harry Patrick Dolan was Chief of Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan when he applied to be Chief following Jane Perlov’s departure. He had previously served as Chief in Lumberton, North Carolina, but actually began his career as a deputy sheriff in Buncombe County before attending the Raleigh Police Academy. In Grand Rapids, he became known for his support of a strong relationship between the police and the community they serve, as well as his belief that “police ought to play an active role in heading off the social ills that drive crime.” He advocated youth programs, helping to secure funding to restore community centers.
The Chief was sworn in on September 4, 2007. He had been a patrolman in Raleigh in the 1980s and had come back to the city a few days before his swearing-in, to meet with officers, attend a retirement party, and practice at the shooting range.
Chief Dolan brought his dedication to community policing to Raleigh, although he saw the department’s history in that regard as a strong one. He expressed plans to create initiatives combatting problems of guns, gangs, and drugs in Raleigh. In a speech given after his swearing in, he stated some of his priorities: putting more officers on the streets, providing mentors for at-risk children, decreasing the dropout rate (which he saw as part of a pipeline to prison), and creating collaborative efforts with local clergy, educators, and existing groups such as Boys and Girls Clubs to help at-risk youth.