After an extensive national search, Asheville City Manager Debra Campbell is happy to announce that David Zack will become the city’s next Chief of Police, effective Feb. 4.
Chief Zack has served as Police Chief of Cheektowaga, N.Y., for nine years and brings over 30 years of police experience. Cheektowaga is similar in size to Asheville with a population of 88,000 people.
As Chief in Cheektowaga, Zack introduced the first Fair and Impartial Policing Training Program in New York State as well as the first Procedural Justice training Program in Western New York. He also created the first Crisis Intervention Teams in Erie County for which he received the National Alliance for Mental illness President’s Award.
The community was invited to meet the final three candidates for chief and provide comments on Dec. 17. City Manager Debra Campbell used these comments, feedback from extensive engagement effort and recommendations from an experienced interview panel with representation from Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, Charlotte’s former Police Chief, Asheville Interim Police Chief, Asheville Fire Chief, and Special Assistant to the City Manager to make this decision.
“Chief Zack’s background in building relationships with the community and years of experience as a chief will enable him to seamlessly transition into the role of Asheville’s Police Chief,” said Campbell.
Zack said he is honored to have been selected to lead the City of Asheville Police Department. “I am excited to be moving to such a welcoming and compassionate city,” he said. “I promise to work hard to ensure the police department serves and protects this community in a manner that reflects its values.”
Zack earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Hilbert College.