Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews Faces Backlash Over Facebook Post About Charlie Kirk

Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews faces mounting backlash over a Facebook post about Charlie Kirk’s death, as critics call for her resignation and supporters defend her First Amendment rights.

Durham’s Police Chief Patrice Andrews is facing criticism — and some calls for resignation — after posting a personal comment on Facebook regarding the public response to the death of Charlie Kirk, a well-known far-right conservative activist.

The post, which expressed confusion about “people mourning” Kirk, has drawn sharp reactions from conservative outlets and critics. But many others say the post is being taken out of context and argue that Chief Andrews has a constitutional right to voice personal opinions — especially when done on a private social media account.

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. His death sparked national headlines and an outpouring of tributes from supporters. Shortly after, Chief Andrews made a Facebook post on her personal page, where she expressed that she was “confused by the people mourning the death of Charlie Kirk.” Critics accused her of being insensitive or politicizing a tragedy, while others argued her comment was made as a private citizen, not in her official role.

Some conservative voices and local critics are demanding Chief Andrews step down, saying the post shows bias and is unbecoming of someone in a law enforcement leadership position. However, supporters of Chief Andrews — and even some neutral observers — have pushed back, noting that the post was made on a personal account, not on the Durham Police Department’s official channels.  The post, while controversial to some, falls under First Amendment protections.