Community Resource Officers Last updated or reviewed on January 14, 2025 Meet Your Community Resource Officers! Did you know the Asheville Police Department has five dedicated Community Resource Officers (CROs) assigned to support and connect with your neighborhood? CROs serve as liaisons between the Asheville Police Department (APD) and the community, focusing on crime prevention, public education, and neighborhood-specific concerns. Our CRO team includes Officer Kora, APD’s therapy dog, who plays a unique role in fostering well-being and mental health across our community. Kora provides support in diverse settings—from school campuses to community events—strengthening bonds through her daily walks around buildings and neighborhoods. Each district has an assigned CRO, supported by two dedicated supervisors, Lt. Brian Hogan and Sgt. Lucas Lovelace. Together, they work to develop, implement, and evaluate safety programs tailored to each neighborhood’s needs, building valuable partnerships along the way. Below, you’ll find contact information, photos, and bios for each CRO. Feel free to reach out or approach them with any community questions or concerns! Community Resource Officers Lieutenant Brian Hogan Serving APD since 2003. Previously served within the Patrol Division, Drug Suppression Unit, Buncombe Co. Anti-Crime Task Force, Criminal Investigations & The Professional Standards Division. bhogan@ashevillenc.gov 828-259-5486 Sergeant Lucas Lovelace Serving since 2010 and has worked as a Patrol, Community Resource officer, Downtown unit, and Professional Standards. He has lived in Western NC since 2001 and is a graduate of Brevard College. llovelace@ashevillenc.gov 828-259-5486 Senior Police Officer Carrie Lee (Baker District/East) Served with the department since 2013, after interning with the department in 2012, to complete her Criminal Justice degree at Appalachian State University. She has served on patrol, as a field training officer, as a patrol forensics technician and is currently a member of the Peer Support team. clee@ashevillenc.gov Senior Police Officer Dennis Pace (Baker District/South) He started with APD working for Animal Services in 2016. He went through the police academy and became a sworn officer in 2018. He is on the Crisis Negotiation Team, Peer Support Team, Certified Patrol Forensic Tech, and a licensed drone pilot. He moved to the Asheville area from Indiana and is a graduate of the University of Southern Indiana and Indiana State University. dpace@ashevillenc.gov Senior Police Officer Christopher Strumolo (Adam District) Since 2018, he has worked as a patrol and community resource officer for West Asheville. He has lived in Western NC since 2017 and is a Graduate of City University of NY. cstrumolo@ashevillenc.gov 828-424-1330 Senior Police Officer Isaiah Senyak (Central District) He has been employed by the APD since 2017. He worked in the Patrol Division in West Asheville prior to joining the Community Engagement Division. He is originally from California but has lived in Asheville since 2016. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University. lsenyak@ashevillenc.gov Senior Police Officer Debbie Lecroy (External Community Partnerships) She serves in APD’s Community Engagement Unit as the handler for Kora, the department’s therapy dog. Officer LeCroy has previously served as a training officer, criminal investigations detective, and agent with the Buncombe County Anti-Crime Task Force. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking the local mountains, staying active, and is a proud mother of five. dlecroy@ashevillenc.gov Officer Kora A 3-year-old Goldendoodle rescue, joined the Asheville Police Department in April 2023. Alongside her handler, Senior Police Officer Debbie LeCroy, Kora completed eight months of rigorous training at Highland Canine Training in Harmony, NC, to become a certified law enforcement therapy dog. Certified by the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA), Officer Kora is one of only two therapy dogs in the region serving North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Since joining the department, Kora has played a pivotal role in supporting the Asheville community and first responders, offering comfort and connection during challenging times. Kora can regularly be seen “paw-trolling” downtown Asheville in her custom cart—complete with blue lights! She also actively participates in school and community programs, brightening lives with her vibrant personality and colorful outfits. In 2024, Officer Kora was honored with the prestigious Top Paws Therapy Dog Award, emerging as the winner through nationwide online voting. This award, now in its second year, celebrates the invaluable contributions therapy dogs make to first-responder communities across the country.
