Number of police in the Asheville Police Department is down 42% since May 2020, 200% surge in break-ins amid a violent crime spike
This isn’t too surprising to anyone who have been following our work.
. . . Violent crime in Asheville increased 31% per 100,000 people between 2016 and 2020 – nearly double the national average and 18-percentage points higher than North Carolina’s 13% increase statewide during the same period. According to statistics released by APD in September, such trends have continued, rising 34% year-to-date compared to 2021 and 29% over 2020. The department noted that aggravated assaults are mostly responsible for the increase. APD Chief David Zack told Fox News Digital last fall that his department lost more than 100 sworn officers since May 2020, and that the force is struggling to maintain visibility while “operating at almost 42% down every single day.” . . .
