Reports show a notable decline in both violent and property-related offenses within Black Mountain during 2024, shared by Steve Parker, the Police Chief. On February 6, Parker revealed statistics from the preceding year exhibiting the positive shift in crime rates. In the year 2023, instances of violent crimes could be counted on one hand, with a total of five occurrences. Fast forward a year to 2024, and this count experienced a drop to four incidents, representing a significant reduction of one-fifth.
The dip in violent crime incidents was one of great significance, particularly in the words of Parker, who referred to it as ‘a big deal.’ Furthermore, the decrease wasn’t limited to violent crimes; property offenses also followed suit. In 2023, reported incidents sat at 116, but by 2024 this figure fell to 95, reflecting another important reduction.
However, this trend of declining crime rates was juxtaposed with an increase in overall service calls for the local Black Mountain Police Department. Standing at 18,127 in 2023, the number of requests for service escalated to 20,385 by 2024. Despite this, Parker exhibited optimism, believing this is indicative of a proactive approach to law enforcement complemented by community service.
Parker attributes the successful reduction in crime rates to a proactive policing strategy, in conjunction with an increased emphasis on robust community engagement. He explains that these two factors play an integral role in how crime can be reduced effectively, and his belief is backed up by the fluctuating crime rate statistics.
An increase was noted for the year 2024 in terms of road-related incidents, warnings, and citations. Parker posits that increased tourism and population growth contributed to these shifts. Specifically, there were 227 traffic accidents, compared to 196 the previous year. The Police Department also handed out 1,560 warnings in 2024, which almost doubled the 815 warnings issued the year prior.
A rise was also seen with citations, with 1,089 given out in 2024. However, Parker is keen to stress that law enforcement’s efforts aim to promote understanding and education as opposed to just ticketing. He underscores this guiding principle as one of the key tenets of their approach to maintaining law and order in the community.
In the year under review, the Flock surveillance cameras installed around Black Mountain recorded 105 hits leading to the successful recovery of 17 stolen vehicles. The town can boast ownership of five of these essential pieces of surveillance technology. Additionally, the ABC Store and Kearfott respectively own three more such devices, bringing the total number of Flock cameras surveillance operations in Black Mountain to eight.
At this juncture in time, the Black Mountain Police Department functions with a full staff roster. When considering diversification amongst staff, however, out of a total of 26 officers, only seven are female, with no representation from people of color. Indeed, further progress is clearly needed in this area to foster a more inclusive and representative workforce.
In 2024, the Black Mountain Police Department made a historic mark as the first Department outside of the pilot program to be honored with the prestigious State Accreditation Award for Excellence in Policing. Furthermore, their commendable standards earned them the approval of the League of Municipalities risk review and accreditation, leading to a substantial 20% cut in insurance costs.
As they look forward to the next phase of their development, law enforcement officials have identified certain areas in need of enhancement. Chief among these is the police department’s building itself, which Parker regards as in need of improvement.
In a look into the near future, Parker mentions ongoing discussions between the town and the county to invest in novel dispatch software. This new system, if confirmed, would likely be in place by the 2026-2027 period. This development would represent another significant upgrade to their operational capacity.
Parker reflected upon their experience with Tropical Storm Helene, describing it as one of the most challenging events he’s faced during his service in law enforcement. Despite the difficulties that arose, he took the opportunity to share his appreciation for the cooperation and shared efforts amongst different departmental units.