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 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. Reporting to the City Manager, Asheville’s Chief of Police manages an annual budget of $41.84M and leads a dedicated team of 272 allocated personnel.
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.