Description
The historic, progressive, and eclectic City of Asheville, North Carolina—nestled in the heart of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains—seeks a seasoned, strategic, and collaborative law enforcement executive to serve as its next Chief of Police.
The Asheville Police Department (APD) is a premier agency with a proud reputation for technology innovation and progressive community-focused policing. The next Chief will step into this leadership role at a defining moment for both the agency and the community. Moving forward from the lingering structural and fiscal impacts of 2024’s Hurricane Helene, the next Chief must balance immediate operational action with long-term organizational sustainability.
The ideal candidate is a champion of team-based decision-making who values transparent communication, holds a deep appreciation for diverse populations, and can masterfully navigate complex community expectations under close public scrutiny. This leader must show a genuine passion for the city and step into the role without a pre-set personal agenda. Additionally, Asheville’s next Chief will spend significant time listening to various personnel and neighborhood stakeholders to keep Asheville progressing towards its vision as an inclusive, connected and engaged community where everyone has access to economic opportunity, housing stability, and core municipal services.
About the Organization, Department and Position
The City of Asheville operates under a Council-Manager form of government, where the elected City Council establishes the community's policy vision, and the City Manager oversees daily municipal operations. Managing a comprehensive fiscal portfolio, the City maintains an annual budget of $275.8 million for FY 2026-2027 and relies on the dedicated service of nearly 1,300 full-time personnel distributed across 17 municipal departments.
The Chief of Police is appointed by and reports to the City Manager’s Office. Asheville’s Chief of Police manages an annual departmental operating budget of $41.84M and leads a dedicated team of 272 allocated personnel, which includes:
232 Authorized Sworn Positions, 191 of which are filled, and 11 cadets are in training. While there are 41 total vacancies, recruitment is scheduled for 26 funded positions in FY27.
40 Authorized Professional Staff (100% filled with 0 vacancies).
The Chief exercises direct leadership over: the Administration Bureau Deputy Chief, the Operations Bureau Deputy Chief, the Professional Standards Lieutenant, and an Executive Assistant. Structurally, the department provides comprehensive public safety services across four primary divisions: Administration, Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Community Engagement (currently realigning as the Specialized Operations Division). The department also conducts a Citizens Police Academy and a Junior Police Academy that connects with teens in the community.
The Asheville Police Department values transparency, as evidenced through its data dashboards, providing the public with current and historical crime conditions in the community. Data dashboards are accessible on the city’s website here. The department utilizes Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology to enhance public safety and investigative capabilities. In cooperation with the Asheville Fire Department, APD utilizes Drone Technology to assist with search and rescue efforts. The use of drones was critical during the department’s response to Hurricane Helene to locate people after the storm.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a closely related field.
At least 10 years of progressive professional law enforcement experience, with a minimum of 5 years at a command executive level (e.g., Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Captain, or equivalent command rank).
An active Law Enforcement Certification from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission (or the immediate ability to obtain certification via reciprocity).
Preferred Qualifications
A master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA), Criminal Justice, Business Administration (MBA), or a related discipline.
Graduation from premier executive leadership programs such as the FBI National Academy, Southern Police Institute (SPI), or the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government Municipal/County Administration Course.
A proven track record of sustaining cutting-edge public safety technology platforms amidst fiscal limitations.
