Interim Asheville Police Chief Mike Lamb named permanently to position

ASHEVILLE — After two months serving as Interim Asheville Police Chief, Mike Lamb has been named the permanent police chief, City Manager Debra Campbell announced in a Feb. 20 news release.

Lamb has served the Asheville community for more than 26 years, rising through the ranks beginning as a patrol officer and most recently promoted to deputy chief in June 2023.

“In the course of his career, Chief Lamb has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership internally and a sincere commitment to working with the community,” Campbell said in the news release.

“He is a public servant in the truest sense. I greatly appreciate him agreeing to serve in the interim role and I feel confident the department will provide the highest level of professional police service under his continued leadership.”

Mayor Esther Manheimer told the Citizen Times Feb. 20 she's received "a lot of communication from individuals and groups asking that (Lamb) be appointed and providing letters of support for his appointment."

She said that's a testament to the relationships Lamb has built and how involved the new chief has been with community members.

"So, if you're somebody who's been working on domestic violence, or folks who are experiencing homelessness in our downtown, he's built relationships with these providers who are working in these areas, and they know him in that context," she said. "Those are important relationships to leverage when you're in the position of police chief."

How Lamb looks to change APD engagement: Asheville Interim Chief Lamb talks new APD focus, 'surprise' retirement, staffing issues

The new chief has an extensive background with APD, having served in "almost every capacity in the police department," Lamb previously told the Citizen Times. He worked for five years as a patrol officer, then moved to the drug suppression unit, then the gang unit. Lamb served as sergeant of criminal investigations and the downtown bike unit before he was promoted to lieutenant.

Manheimer said the challenges facing the Asheville community are "greater than it has been historically" that have "been a challenge in the face of traditional law enforcement." As examples, she listed how policing is different in communities under "reimagining public safety" initiatives and in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, the surge in homelessness post-pandemic, and the increase in mental health and substance use addiction.

"Police are being asked to serve as social workers, as mental health specialists," Manheimer said. "We as a community have to have a police department that knows how to work with community partners that can help serve these other needs."

The lifelong Asheville resident was named interim chief on Dec. 18, three days after former Chief David Zack submitted his letter of resignation to stop working that same day — a retirement Lamb called surprising.

“It was a surprise. We were looking probably more at another year or two that Chief Zack would stay,” Lamb said in a Dec. 19 interview with the Citizen Times. “We knew it was going to come at some point, because his goal that he stated several times, was that he wanted the next chief to come from within.”

Chief Zack announces retirement: Asheville Police Chief Zack announces intention to retire after 3 years as top cop

Jackie Stepp hired as deputy chief: Asheville Police names Henderson County native as first female deputy chief

Since June 2023, Lamb went from a newly appointed deputy chief, to interim chief and now to permanent chief in a span of about eight months. Having mostly been on the operational side of the agency, Lamb admitted that he “will definitely need some help with the political landscape.”

When asked what he'd like to see change within APD under his leadership, Lamb told the Citizen Times that he and his executive team would like to be “out there engaging with the community and with officers,” as well as other city departments and other stakeholders.

“I'm humbled to serve my lifelong community as the newly named Chief of the Asheville Police Department," Lamb said in the news statement.

"I continue to be grateful for the dedication of our department's men and women. Throughout my 26 years of service, I've cherished the opportunity to cultivate strong bonds within our community. Together, we continue the momentum to serve our community effectively and our commitment to fostering safety and prosperity in Asheville," he said.

As the newly appointed chief, Lamb's annual salary increased from $173,250 to 181,125, according to the city's online employee database.

Now that Lamb has been hired as permanent chief, the department has an open deputy chief position to fill. Lamb previously said this position would be filled once the permanent chief is named. In the meantime, Deputy Chief Jackie Stepp and Lamb have overlapped the duties of the administrative and operational deputy chief roles during the interim period.

Neighborhood crime: Downtown Asheville not so dangerous? Data: These neighborhoods have more crime, violence

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville Police Department gets new permanent police chief