Press release from the city of Asheville:
City Manager bolsters change efforts for Asheville Police Department
ASHEVILLE – City Manager Gary Jackson told an Asheville City Council committee on Monday that steps are being implemented to bolster change within the Asheville Police Department, including the formation of a team to support efforts within the department to foster an environment for success and effectiveness.
Jackson introduced the concept to Asheville City Council’s Public Safety Committee as part of an update on the police department’s strategic plan. The makeup of the team will include participants from multiple City of Asheville Departments and especially from within the Asheville Police Department itself.
This team will coordinate with the consultant to bolster the organizational and cultural changes spelled out in the APD’s strategic plan already underway and identify additional avenues for employee feedback and communication. The coordinated effort of the facilitated team and the consultant, Jackson says, will provide perspectives from both within the organization and from third-party independent observation.
This model has already proven effective for the Asheville Fire Department, and the expertise and experience gained in that process will benefit the Asheville Police Department as it moves forward.
“In recent years, the fire department identified the need for and implemented cultural and operational changes, for which it was recognized at the state and national level,” Jackson said. “We place the highest priority on the success of the men and women in the police department and are committed to its efforts to create and sustain unified and positive forces for change within the department.”
Mayor Esther Manheimer welcomed the announcement. “I have confidence in the city manager’s strategy for maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the police department,” she said. “Mr. Jackson heard the community’s concerns, and this plan demonstrates an aggressive strategy for creating and sustaining continued positive change in the police department.”
More details will be shared at Asheville City Council’s formal session on Tuesday, October 28.
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