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Durham proclaims HEART recognition day after program reports 32,000 responses and wins ICMA award
Summary
Mayor Leonardo Williams and city officials proclaimed Nov. 3, 2025, as a HEART recognition day, praising the Durham Community Safety Department’s HEART program for responding to more than 32,000 nonviolent calls and noting it received an ICMA 2025 Program Award for excellence in community health and safety.
Mayor Leonardo Williams read a proclamation on Nov. 3 recognizing the HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Team) program and proclaimed Nov. 3, 2025, as Durham HEART Recognition Day.
The proclamation states the Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) created HEART in 2021 and that, since its launch in 2022, the program has responded to more than 32,000 nonviolent calls for service. Mayor Williams noted that HEART first responders report feeling safe more than 99% of the time and that the program has earned national recognition; the proclamation cited an ICMA 2025 program award for excellence in community health and safety.
Assistant directors Denise Vance and Lee Mazer thanked staff and prior city leaders for support and praised interagency partnerships, including with the police chief and the 911 director. City manager Beau Ferguson and Deputy City Manager Keith Chadwell were acknowledged for administrative support. Assistant directors stressed HEART’s mission to provide nonpolice crisis response options that reduce harm and extend care.
What’s next: The proclamation is symbolic recognition of HEART’s outcomes and national attention. Council members encouraged residents to celebrate the program and said staff would continue community engagement as HEART expands and its practices are shared with other cities.
No formal council action was required for the proclamation.
