Rescheduled Public Safety Committee (Virtual) (Sep 24, 2026)

Meeting Overview The City of Asheville’s Public Safety Committee held a rescheduled virtual meeting on September 24, 2026, chaired by Bo Hess. The committee, comprising Vice Mayor Mosley and Council Member Smith, focused on three primary agenda items: an after-action report on the G20 PGA security operations, an update on gun violence prevention strategies, and a progress report on the West Asheville Street Engagement Team (WASÈ). The meeting concluded with a period for public comment.

Key Decisions The only formal action taken during this meeting was the approval of the minutes from the previous committee meeting held on July 29, 2026. The motion to approve the minutes was made and seconded by unidentified members, and the measure passed with a unanimous 3-0 vote from Chair Hess, Vice Mayor Mosley, and Council Member Smith. No other votes, resolutions, or policy decisions were enacted during this session.

Discussion Highlights The committee reviewed significant public safety initiatives and outcomes. Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Knighton and Patrol Captain Evan Coward presented a report on the G20 financial summit, describing the operation as an "overall success" with no major disturbances, attributing the outcome to strong collaboration with federal partners and city departments.

Interim Police Chief Jackie Stepp and Deputy Chief Sean Aardema provided data on crime reduction efforts, noting a 32% decrease in domestic violence incidents and the lowest overall crime levels in five years. They highlighted a new data-driven initiative with the Department of Juvenile Justice to manage juvenile placement and reduce retaliatory violence, as well as early conversations with the University of Chicago Crime Lab to implement evidence-informed strategies.

Regarding homelessness, Emily Ball of the Homeless Strategies Division and Christian Chambers of Safe Shelter presented data on the WASÈ pilot program. Over an 8-month period, the team conducted 550 meaningful engagements with over 100 individuals, reducing the percentage of clients who were unsheltered at first contact from 81% to 35% at closure. Ball noted that bed availability remains the "rate limiting factor" for successful exits, while Chambers emphasized Safe Shelter’s ability to secure same-day facility entry for clients. Lieutenant Fortenberry and Captain Coward also discussed the integration of Asheville Fire Department (AFD) Regional Emergency Services Team (REST) units into West Asheville, noting a dramatic increase in police proactivity along the Haywood Road corridor.

Community Input During public comment, a resident submitted a public records request regarding the $7.4 million Axon contract, specifically questioning the withholding of "Real-Time Intelligence Center" (Flock) quotes as trade secrets. The commenter argued that state statute permits disclosure and requested that the committee direct the City Manager to publish the unredacted or price-redacted quotes, ensuring transparency in the ongoing review of Flock/ALTR use. Chair Bo Hess thanked the commenter for the information and acknowledged the importance of transparency, but he did not make a specific commitment to direct staff to release the documents during the meeting.

Follow-ups Several staff members agreed to provide additional information to the committee for future consideration:

• Vice Mayor Mosley requested demographic data regarding domestic violence incidents, which Interim Police Chief Stepp confirmed the department would provide.
• Vice Mayor Mosley asked for background on the co-responder program, which Deputy Chief Aardema and Captain Coward provided, detailing its origins via a 2025 VIA Health grant.
• Vice Mayor Mosley inquired about the capacity needs for additional REST units for budget planning; Lieutenant Fortenberry agreed to provide specific data on coverage needs and seasonal variations for future budget discussions.
• Chair Hess asked about the potential for a "direct admit" process for psych hospitals; Lieutenant Fortenberry stated that such a process would be a "game changer" and offered to help facilitate it.

Impact This meeting provided residents with a comprehensive update on the effectiveness of recent public safety investments, particularly the WASÈ program’s success in connecting homeless individuals to housing and services. The data presented suggests that targeted, multi-agency collaborations are yielding measurable reductions in violent crime and homelessness metrics. The discussion on REST team expansion and direct admit processes highlights ongoing efforts to improve emergency response efficiency and mental health outcomes in West Asheville. The committee’s focus on transparency regarding surveillance contracts also underscores the body’s attention to public oversight of technology spending.