Wilmington police chief reflects on first year, outlines priorities for second

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY-TV) — Next week marks one year since Ryan Zuidema became chief of the Wilmington Police Department, and he says the department has made progress on several priorities during his first year.

Zuidema took office Sept. 22, 2025, when the department had more than 40 officer vacancies. That number has since fallen to 32, he said.

“It’s been a very busy year for sure,” Zuidema said.

Zuidema said many of the department’s new hires have come from outside law enforcement agencies and already have experience in the field. He said the department also is working to retain officers by offering additional employment benefits and investing in training and equipment.

“Simple things like tuition reimbursement has gone up pretty significantly, investment in equipment, investment in training for our officers,” Zuidema said. “So we want to continue to invest in leadership development here and do a great job at keeping the folks we have and attracting new ones as well.”

The department also recently hired four social workers who will work alongside officers on calls involving people experiencing mental health challenges and other needs.

“We are still building that program out so we can get them working exactly where the greatest demand is for them and make sure they have all the tools and resources they need,” Zuidema said.

Zuidema also reflected on an officer-involved shooting over the summer at a Market Street parking deck, where a car was driven toward officers.

He said the department has additional training resources, including virtual reality training, that can help officers prepare for high-stress situations.

“An officer-involved shooting is always referred to the SBI for review to make sure the officer’s actions are lawful, but we are constantly reviewing training and performance to ensure we have the best training and equipment,” Zuidema said.

Following the shooting, the city rejected Zuidema’s request for new patrol rifles to replace the department’s current shotguns, which he has described as outdated.

Zuidema said he plans to continue pursuing the request during his second year as chief.

“Our officers need to address criminals who have higher capability in terms of weapons that are out there and make sure our officers can function safely,” he said.

As Zuidema begins his second year leading the department, the Wilmington Police Department is undergoing a restructuring and preparing to launch a crime data portal.