Chief of Police

About the role

The City of Asheville, North Carolina is seeking a seasoned, strategic, and collaborative law enforcement executive to serve as its next Chief of Police. This role comes at a defining moment for both the agency and the community, following the lingering structural and fiscal impacts of 2024’s Hurricane Helene.

Responsibilities

• Manage an annual budget of $41.84M and lead a dedicated team of 272 allocated personnel.
• Balance immediate operational action with long-term organizational sustainability.
• Report to the City Manager.

Qualifications

• 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.