From Staff Reports 

Asheville City Council on June 11 voted unanimously to name the Asheville Police Headquarters in memory of former Asheville Police Lt. Walter Robertson. 

“During his 28-year tenure at the Asheville Police Department, ‘Walt’ Robertson became the first African-American to reach the rank of lieutenant,” a news release posted June 11 on the city’s website stated.

“An Asheville native, he graduated from Lee Edwards High School and went on to earn a Purple Heart during his Army service during the Vietnam War.  

“Lt. Robertson served as a mentor to many in the community and was admired for his work assisting economically disadvantaged families through a program called ‘Getting Back to Basics.’”

Prior to council’s vote, “community input was solicited through Open City Hall Asheville and neighborhood networks,” the city news release noted. “The majority of the responses were in favor of naming the police building in his honor.”

A plaque renaming the building will be placed on APD Headquarters, 100 Court Plaza. 

Robertson died April 25 of natural causes in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., while he was attending a veterans conference. He was 68.