At 11:15 a.m. today, Asheville Police Chief Tammy Hooper provided information about last night’s shooting at 73 Hansel Avenue. Chief Hooper made her statements at Asheville Police Department Headquarters, 100 Court Plaza. Four people, including two children and the suspected shooter, are dead and three others were injured in the April 18, 2018, shooting. Erica Nichelle [...]
These recordings depict an event which occurred August 24 and 25, 2017. What happened in these recordings is unacceptable and does not meet the standards of the Asheville Police Department, the values of the City of Asheville, or the expectations of Asheville residents. Christopher Hickman, who used dangerous and excessive force against Johnnie Rush, was [...]
Asheville City Council will hold a worksession at 2 p.m. March 20 in the Council Chamber, second floor of City Hall, 70 Court Plaza. The agenda for the March 20 City Council worksession is available by clicking on this link. Among items on the agenda are Council discussion to set priorities to address policing in [...]
Former Asheville Police officer Christopher Hickman was taken into custody the evening of March 8, 2018, and charged with Assault by Strangulation, Assault Inflicting Serious Injury and Communicating Threats for actions during the August 24, 2017, excessive use of force incident against Johnnie Rush. Christopher William Hickman Here is the press release from the Buncombe County [...]
A statement by Asheville City Council Like you, we are angry. We are angry that a black man walking home from a long day at work was stopped for jaywalking — something most of us do regularly without consequence. We are angry that Johnnie Rush was attacked, beaten, choked and tased by a white police officer [...]
Asheville City Council held a special called meeting March 5, 2018, in which the Council went into closed session to consult with the City Attorney about the Aug. 24, 2017, use of force incident involving former Asheville Police Senior Officer Chris Hickman. This incident follows the March 1, 2018, media release of body-worn video footage of [...]
The City of Asheville filed a petition today under N.C. General Statute § 132-1.4A, asking the Buncombe County Superior Court to order the release of additional body-worn camera recordings of Asheville Police Department officers relating to the August 2017 arrest of Johnnie Jermaine Rush. A copy of the petition can be found here: Petition of the [...]
The City of Asheville, including the Asheville Police Department, is committed to being as transparent as possible within the law. The following questions are questions City Council and staff have heard throughout the community. Staff will continue to collect common questions through the comments shared on the Community Engagement Hotline, 828-259-5900, and comments to be shared [...]
Asheville City Council will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. March 5, 2018, in the Council Chamber, Second Floor of City Hall. The purpose of this meeting is to hold a closed session. “The purpose of this meeting is, in part, to discuss the release of additional information related to a former APD officer’s use of [...]
Please note revised timeline below. A statement by Asheville Police Chief Tammy Hooper regarding the video below: The acts demonstrated in this video are unacceptable and contrary to the Department’s vision and the progress we have made in the last several years in improving community trust. Officers know that they must earn the trust of our community [...]
Please note revised timeline below. In response to the violent acts against a city resident, Mayor Esther Manheimer, Vice Mayor Gwen Wisler, and Police Chief Tammy Hooper met with the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) and the Baptist Ministers Union (BMU) the afternoon on March 1. The participants had an open dialogue about the video and agreed to [...]
The Asheville Police Department has released its 2017 Professional Standards annual report. The Professional Standards report is released yearly to provide a comprehensive picture of the Asheville Police Department’s performance. The report analyzes the department’s vehicle pursuits, use of force, assaults on officers, bias-based policing and administrative investigations for calendar year 2017. “One of [...]
