John H. Dailey

John H. Dailey, a Durham native who began his law enforcement career at Duke University, will return to Duke as chief of police April 1.

Dailey, 44, succeeds Robert H. Dean, who retired last year.

Dailey was selected through a national search, led by a committee comprised of Duke undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff.

"John has a strong affinity for Duke and a good understanding of Duke and our police department," said Kemel Dawkins, vice president for campus services. "The search committee was impressed by his commitment, credentials and energy, and believes he will be an asset for the Duke community."

Dailey joins Duke after serving as assistant police chief at North Carolina State University since 2001. He worked at Duke from 1993 to 2001, working his way up the ranks from police officer/sergeant to lieutenant and police team leader, then captain for administrative services.

"I am honored to be part of this great institution and look forward to working with the talented members of the Duke police department," Dailey said. "Duke is an amazing place. I met my wife at Duke, and my children were born at Duke Hospital."

When he was first at Duke, Dailey established a strong relationship with students, developing an alcohol education program designed to teach students about impairment and the relationship between alcohol and behavioral choices.

"He really cares a tremendous amount about Duke," said Jordan Giordano, the Duke Student Government executive vice president who served on the search committee. "He has a good understanding of the needs of Duke students and the Duke community. Duke is a very unique place and Durham is unique, so it's important that the police chief have experience with both, and he already does."

While at Duke, Dailey also sought ways to enhance the professionalism within the department, including encouraging customer service. He won the Commitment to Excellence Award from the North Carolina Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators in 1998.

Dailey's interest in police work began at an early age, which prompted him to start work as a security officer for Duke Police over the summers while he was in high school and college.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in business from Wake Forest University in 1987, Dailey spent six years in the U.S. Army, serving in Germany and Virginia. He received a master's degree in public administration from N.C. State.

Dailey is married to Kimberly DiDonato, who served as Duke's assistant dean of student development from 1997 to 2001. They have three sons, ages 3, 6 and 8.