From Staff Reports 

After an extensive national search, Asheville City Manager Debra Campbell announced that she “is happy to announce that David Zack will become the city’s next Chief of Police, effective Feb. 4,” according to a city press release.

Zack has served as police chief of Cheektowaga, N.Y., for nine years and brings more than 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 release noted.

“The community was invited to meet the final three candidates for chief and provide comments on Dec. 17.”

Campbell, the press release stated, “used these comments, feedback from extensive engagement effort (linked here) 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.”

The release quoted Campbell as saying, “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.”

Zack said he “is honored to have been selected to lead the City of Asheville Police Department,” the release noted.

Zack was quoted in the release as saying, “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.