Black Mountain announces hiring of new police chief

Steven Parker to step into the position in October

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 8, 2021

Steve Parker, the chief of the Tega Cay Police Department in S.C., has accepted the same position with the Black Mountain Police Department, beginning Oct. 30. Photo courtesy of Tega Cay Police Department

For the second time in less than a month, the Town of Black Mountain has selected a new chief to lead its police department. 

Steven Parker, the current chief of the department in Tega Cay, S.C., will step into the role, beginning Saturday, Oct. 30. 

The town began its search for a new police chief in July, when Shawn Freeman retired after more than four years in the position. Maggie Valley Police Department Chief Russell Gilliland verbally accepted the job in August, but remained in his current role after rescinding his decision days later. 

Parker, one of approximately 20 applicants who sought to fill the position at BMPD, was another top candidate in that search, according to Town Manager Josh Harrold, who announced the hiring of the new chief, Sept. 8. 

Tega Cay, where Parker has served as police chief since 2015, is 20 miles south of Charlotte and has a population of approximately 12,000 citizens. The TCPD prioritizes community policing and engagement with residents, according to the chief’s message on the department’s website. 

In his seven years as chief of the TCPD, Parker has undertaken and completed several major projects.  In 2016, the department attained S.C. Accreditation status for the first time in its history.  In 2018-2019, Parker managed the design and build of a new $4 million police station. 

Parker began his law enforcement career in Mecklenburg County in 1993, before moving to Rock HIll, S.C. two years later. The graduate of the FBI National Academy served in training, investigations, patrol, traffic, SWAT, K-9 and narcotics, and was promoted to the position of Field Services Major with the Rock Hill Police Department in 2013. During his time with RHPD, Parker commanded the largest gang arrest ever in York County, and the agency received several awards including: CALEA Flagship National Honors, AAA Outstanding Traffic Safety Community Award (four times) and the SWAT South East National Championships (five times).