Asheville Police Suspend Response to Several Crimes in Effort to Improve Emergency Response Times
The Asheville Police Department (APD) has lost 84 officers since January 1, 2020.
As a result of the staffing crisis, several changes in officer response went into effect June 1, 2021 so as to improve response times for emergency calls made to 9-1-1.
Under the new policy, APD officers will no longer respond to the following types of crimes:
- Theft under $1,000 where there is no suspect information (this does not include stolen vehicles or guns)
- Theft from a vehicle where there is no suspect information
- Minimal damage and/or graffiti to property where there is no suspect
- Non-life-threatening harassing phone calls (does not include incidents that are related to domestic violence and/or stalking)
- Fraud, scams, or identity theft
- Simple assaults that are reported after they have occurred
- Reports that do not require immediate police actions and/or enforcement (information only reports)
- Funeral escorts
- Lost/found property
- Trespassing where the property owner does not want to press charges
Additionally, noise complaints made during normal business hours and after-hours may have a significant delay in response.
Victims of these crimes can use the Police to Citizen online reporting tool (ashevillepd.policetocitizen.com/ReportIncident) to file a police report. Individuals without access to online reporting can call (828) 252-1110 to have an officer respond when available, though this method may result in a significant delay in response.
