The city will not move forward with a proposed contract between Peregrine Technologies and the Durham Police Department at this time, City Council members decided at their Monday meeting.
The proposed contract would have established a “Real Time Crime Center” in Durham to expedite police investigations using Peregrine’s data integration platform. City Council discussed the item at a Jan. 22 work session, where residents voiced concerns about data privacy, surveillance, and the platform’s use of AI.
The council unanimously voted to pull the item from the agenda at Monday’s meeting, which was held on Zoom.
Council members Chelsea Cook and Carl Rist mentioned that the council had received a number of emails and public comments from citizens concerned about the contract.
Cook apologized to concerned residents who had hoped to speak at Monday’s meeting.
“I do understand that some people would have wished to have been heard only because we had this at a work session and did have an opportunity for public comment previously,” Cook said. “I had also reserved my comments to be here tonight so I totally understand the frustration that folks are having.”
In an interview ahead of the meeting, Mayor Leonardo Williams expressed concerns about introducing new technology in law enforcement following the activation of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents across the country.
“I want to be able to have that conversation with everyone without the sensation of the federal government’s overreach,” Williams said.
The proposed contract has been remanded to city staff. Council members did not set a timetable for further discussion.
Halle Vazquez
