Asheville Swears In Jackie Stepp as Police Chief
Stepp, who has served with the Asheville Police Department for more than 21 years, takes the department's top job after nearly a year as interim chief.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People
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Asheville swore in Jackie Stepp as its permanent police chief at City Hall on a Friday morning. Stepp succeeds former Chief Mike Lamb, who retired last November.
Why it matters
The appointment fills the department's top post after an interim period, and the average tenure of an APD chief has been less than two years. Stepp has named reducing crime, building community trust, and improving recruitment and retention as priorities for Asheville residents.
Stepp has more than 21 years with the Asheville Police Department and served nearly a year as interim chief. The average chief's tenure at APD has been less than two years, and the extraction does not detail specific compensation changes she has proposed.
The players
Jackie Stepp
Jackie Stepp is a longtime Asheville Police Department officer who rose through the ranks over more than 21 years before becoming the city's permanent police chief.
Mike Lamb
Mike Lamb is the former Asheville police chief whose retirement last November created the vacancy Stepp filled.
The details
Jackie Stepp was sworn in at City Hall after rising through the ranks over more than 21 years with the department. She is the only police department she applied to, and she cited compensation as a continuing priority.
Timeline
November 2025: Former Chief Mike Lamb retired and Stepp began serving as interim chief.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Stepp was sworn in as Asheville's permanent police chief.
Leadership Continuity
Stepp's appointment comes against the backdrop of an average APD chief tenure of less than two years, making her selection a test of whether the department can sustain leadership beyond an interim period. Her 21-year internal track record is the main factor distinguishing her from recent short-tenured predecessors.
Residents of Asheville will see Stepp's stated priorities of reducing crime and improving recruitment and retention shape departmental decisions under her leadership. The extraction does not specify any immediate changes to patrols, services, or response procedures.
The takeaway
Leadership stability at the top of a police department can shape both public trust and staff retention, and Stepp's internal rise gives her a foundation of institutional knowledge. Residents can watch whether her stated priorities translate into measurable results over the coming years.
Further reading
Explore more on People to see how other city leaders and public officials are shaping their communities.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLOS.
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