Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It was a monumental moment for Chief of Police James “Danny” Buie as he was officially sworn-in as the city’s new Police Chief on Tuesday, August 13 at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

Alongside city officials as well as his wife and grandson, Buie received his badge and took his official Oath of Office before the Hon. Nicole A. Belote, Chief Judge  of Suffolk General District Court, officially marking Suffolk and Buie’s new chapter in law enforcement. On what separates Buie from others, Mayor Michael D. Duman noted his character and ability to lead.

“Danny Buie is humble, honorable, dedicated, genuine, and leads by example,” Duman said. “I do not believe he would ever ask any of his men or women to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. Danny Buie will never forget where he came from or lose appreciation for those he commands. Through his actions, and through his deeds, he has earned something that money can’t buy and no one can demand, and that is respect.”

Estelita Buie also gave remarks on her husband and best friend. She expressed that the Suffolk Police Department has always been an “example of excellence.”

“It’s appointments like these that have built a solid foundation of leadership and a police force worthy of our praise. It’s vital to our city’s safety and that we continue to seek the best Chief appointments and the best officers that we can possibly attract,” Estelita Buie said. “Clearly I am ecstatic for my husband and his appointment, but during this process, we remained careful that the final decision would be one that would truly benefit and continue the success of our police department and the safety of our city.”

Buie himself thanked Estelita, his family and friends, officials and team members for helping reach this life milestone. In remarks to the Suffolk community, Buie credits the strong relationship with the community to his previous Chiefs of Police and his desire to continue that relationship.

“…I want you to know that the City of Suffolk Police Department belongs to the citizens of Suffolk. We can’t police without our community. If our community doesn’t support us, the Suffolk Police Department cannot function as a police department,” Buie said. “We have seen throughout the country what happens when the community and the police department don’t have mutual respect…I will tell you this on my watch, we will foster that partnership, we will continue to do it year and year again, but we have to have the support of our community. We work for you – always remember that. You’re never bothering us, that’s our job. We work for you.”

Sharing quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., General Norman Schwarzkopf, 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and Author John Maxwell, Buie gave closing remarks.

“As the Chief of Police for the Suffolk Police Department and a citizen of this great city, I look forward to working together with all members of this department, all of our city staff and all of the citizens of Suffolk to keep Suffolk as one of the best cities in the United States to live and to work in,” Buie ended.