Asheville Police: Stepp Sworn In as Permanent Chief

Jackie Stepp is now the permanent police chief of Asheville, North Carolina. She was sworn in at City Hall on Friday morning, ending a nearly yearlong interim period and securing the department's leadership after the retirement of former Chief Mike Lamb last November.

Stepp has served with the Asheville Police Department for more than 21 years. She joined the force as a rookie and rose through the ranks to reach the top position. She stated that she applied to only one police department in her career and intends to retire in Asheville.

The new chief identified several immediate goals for the agency. Her stated priorities include reducing crime, building trust with residents, and fixing issues with staff recruitment and retention. She specifically named compensation as a continuing focus area.

"My priorities are straightforward: reduce crime and address the concerns that matter most to you, support our employees, strengthen our department’s culture, and continue to earn the trust of this community," Stepp said.

She also emphasized the need for stability. Stepp noted that the average tenure of her predecessors was less than two years. She wants to change that pattern by providing a steady hand for both officers and the public.

Stepp described her vision for the department as simple. She aims for a professional, high-performing unit that is the best trained, best equipped, and best paid in the area. She said her interim experience gave her a wider view of the challenges the agency faces.

"Serving as the interim over the past year has given me a broader perspective of the challenges facing our department and the opportunities for this community," she said. Stepp added that she has never seen the city more engaged in public safety issues than in the last 12 months. She plans to focus on listening to residents and ensuring they have a voice in how the department moves forward.