After a national recruitment effort, Asheville City Manager DK Wesley is pleased to announce that Jackie Stepp has accepted the permanent position of Police Chief.
Chief Stepp, a lifelong advocate for community-centered policing, has served the Asheville community for more than 20 years.
“I am proud to promote Chief Stepp as Asheville’s next Chief of Police. She emerged from a rigorous and competitive selection process that focused on leadership, experience and a vision needed to lead the Department into its next chapter.” said City Manager DK Wesley. “I look forward to working with Stepp to advance a community-centered approach to public safety – one grounded in integrity, trust, collaboration, accountability and a commitment to advancing safety for our entire community.”
“Serving as Interim Chief over the past year has reinforced my pride in the men and women of the Asheville Police Department,” said Chief Stepp. “I am deeply honored to step into the permanent Chief role and will work alongside our dedicated officers, city leadership, and community partners as we continue to build on our progress and move Asheville forward together.”
Chief Stepp holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Western Carolina University and is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police. She is also a graduate of the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Program, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Women’s Leadership Institute.