Whichard Committee

The Whichard Committee is a committee that was formed after the exoneration of the accused players in the Duke lacrosse case. The purpose of the committee is to study the actions of the Durham Police Department in the case.

The committee had one public meeting.

In August 2007, following the public announcement that the exonerated players were hiring attorneys in preparation for the likely filing of civil lawsuits, Mayor Bill Bell said that the City Council might decide to suspend the activities of the Whichard Committee indefinitely. Durham has a $5 million liability policy with The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania; however, a clause in the city’s insurance policy says that there will be no coverage if the city "elect[s] a third party to investigate, defend or settle such claims or suits."