“The women of Asheville have made remarkable achievements in their city’s history.”
Tag: Tammy Hooper
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From AVL Watchdog: Equity advocates resign amid racial reckoning
Kimberlee Archie, the city’s first equity and inclusion manager, and Libby Kyles, CEO of the YWCA of Asheville, have left high-profile jobs with a mission of improving racial equity in the city within a month of each other.
Civil Service Board finds Byrd firing unjustified in rare closed session
Civil Service Board Chair Carol Goins voted against her colleagues in a 4-1 decision finding that former Asheville Police Department Capt. Mark Byrd’s firing by former Chief Tammy Hooper was not justified and ordering the city to reach “a just conclusion of the matter.” The board’s reasons for that decision were discussed during its first closed session in at least three years.
Hooper files response to defamation suit
In court documents filed March 12, former Asheville Police Chief Tammy Hooper’s attorney, Joseph P. McGuire, responded to a legal complaint brought against Hooper by former Asheville Police Sgt. Lisa Taube.
2018 in review: Shakeups in Asheville city staff
Change proved the only constant among staff members in Asheville city government during 2018. Firings, resignations, reassignments and new hires left the city’s bureaucracy radically changed from its makeup at the start of the year.
Asheville City Council split over Hooper resignation agreement
According to interim City Manager Cathy Ball, Council held a closed session vote on the amount of Hooper’s $118,000 compensation. Mayor Esther Manheimer, Vice Mayor Gwen Wisler, and Council members Keith Young, Sheneika Smith and Brian Haynes all voted in favor of the agreement, while Vijay Kapoor and Julie Mayfield voted in opposition.
Hooper’s farewell
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
Asheville Police Department Chief Tammy Hooper to resign in January
In a Nov. 7 press release, interim City Manager Cathy Ball announced that Chief Hooper would be resigning effective Wednesday, Jan. 2 — as well as that Hooper had previously attempted to resign in February. As part of her resignation agreement, Hooper will be paid $118,000 and will provide 75 hours of consulting services “to assist with the transition” of police leadership.
City staff hint at major zoning overhaul during budget work session
Todd Okolichany, Asheville’s director of planning & urban design, said the city’s Unified Development Ordinance was in need of an extensive and holistic review. While the city has made “Band-Aid edits,” he explained, the last major revision of Asheville’s main development code took place in 1997.
City Council releases consultant’s report on Rush incident
Nearly a month after an anticipated release in late July, Asheville City Council has shared the final report from Chicago-based 21CP Solutions about the city’s policies and procedures in relation to a police beating scandal. Since April, the consulting firm has been reviewing the beating of black Asheville resident Johnnie Jermaine Rush by white former Asheville Police Department […]
“Fireworks” in store for June 19 Council meeting
Two weeks before the Fourth of July, the meeting’s agenda promises a grand finale of rhetorical explosions over two matters of unfinished business. The first is the Asheville city budget, which Council member Brian Haynes has said he will not support as long as it contains funding for additional officers to staff the Asheville Police Department’s downtown district. The second is a series of resolutions to rescind and replace the three motions on police policy previously proposed by Young and passed by Council on May 22.
APD chief says Gonce interfered in Hickman investigation
Asheville Police Capt. Stony Gonce is off the force, at least in part due to his conduct during the investigation of former officer Chris Hickman’s beating of city resident Johnnie Rush.
Asheville Council hears community response to police beating video
Asheville City Council heard two hours of public comment on March 13, the vast majority of it pertaining to recent footage showing a white APD officer beating a black Asheville resident.
Group trains bystanders to intervene in troublesome situations
About 50 people took part in a bystander intervention training session on July 30 to learn the best strategies for intervening in tense or dangerous situations. The training facilitators shared techniques to safely and positively take action.
Charges to be dismissed against mentally disabled man arrested during I-240 bridge incident
Terry Marzelle, an Asheville man with a mental disability, who was arrested last week during an incident involving a suspicious device on the Haywood Road Bridge over I-240, will not face charges. The arrest was caught on camera by WLOS. Asheville Police Department Chief Tammy Hooper released a detailed statement this afternoon in response to community concerns […]
The strong arm of the law
Activists speak out against proposed police department expansion
Activists dominated the May 23 public hearing on Asheville’s proposed 2017-18 fiscal year budget. The group $1 Million for the People opposes Asheville Police Chief Tammy Hooper’s request for $1 million in additional funding to hire 15 new officers for a new downtown policing unit.
City budget and policing on tap for May 9 session of Asheville Council
If you want to attend Asheville City Council’s May 9 meeting, arrive early. Between a response from the Police Department to a recent report on racial disparities in policing to the first presentation of the city manager’s proposed budget for the 2017-18 Fiscal Year, there’s a lot on the agenda that could be of interest to a variety of city residents and advocates.
Asheville traffic stop data show racial inequities
Data reported to the State Bureau of Investigation by the Asheville Police Department reveal significant racial disparities in traffic stops, an attorney for the Southern Coalition of Social Justice told Asheville City Council on April 24. And even though the data are disturbing, they may not tell the full story: An analysis revealed an apparent failure to report data for 58 percent of audited traffic stops, despite a state law requires police departments to provide demographic data for all stops.
Hooper gives overview of 2016 crime, police department activities
Asheville Police Chief Tammy Hooper presented a review of the department’s activities during 2016 at City Council’s Jan. 24 meeting. Aggravated assault and gun crime rose sharply from 2015, while property crime was down slightly.
City Council denies 185-room hotel
City Council voted unanimously to deny the zoning request for a 185-room hotel at 192 Haywood St. at its Jan. 24 meeting. Police Chief Tammy Hooper gave an update on policing in the city in 2016.