BMPD reports ‘critical need’ for staffing, recruitment and retention

Chief Steve Parker presents annual report to town council

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
April 11, 2023

Black Mountain Police Chief Steve Parker (background) and Major Chris Kuhn present the department’s annual report to the town council on April 10. Photo by Fred McCormick

Employee retention, recruitment and staffing levels continue to be a “critical need” for the Black Mountain Police Department, Chief Steve Parker told the town council, April 10, while presenting his annual report. 

“Last year we only had 39 days that our patrol staff was fully staffed,” Parker said, as he addressed the board in its regular monthly meeting. “We need to add two more so we have four per shift. That way we always have at least three working, because there is always one on vacation, in training or sick.”

The town council allocated funding for two additional positions in the 2022-23 budget, but recruiting law enforcement officers has been a challenge, according to the chief.

“We had 24 applicants for three positions last year and 17 of them did not qualify for an interview, and three of them applied as reserves,” he said. “That means I only had four possible candidates for those positions.”

The department plans to propose a recruitment and retention plan, designed to create a succession structure, in the upcoming budget. The program, according to Parker, will replace BMPD’s current incentive plan.

“Your next chief, major, lieutenants should come from within Black Mountain,” he said. “This is a plan that is built for that, and it’s also financially sound. It won’t hurt us, budget-wise, to move away from that incentive program and go to this.”

In an effort to address staffing in the 2023-24 budget, the department will recommend an incentive plan for officers who recruit qualified candidates.

“This would be $1,000 recruitment bonus if one of our officers helps recruit a certified officer, which we need immediately,” Parker said. "It will also include a $500 bonus for non-certified hires and a $2,000 sign-on bonus. We do need something to attract candidates to come here. We have a great place, but it’s a challenge to find law enforcement officers.”

Data presented in the report indicated that the department’s hiring rate has fallen in recent years, while resignations and retirements have increased.

“Since this time last year, there have been roughly 60 times where everyone was on a call,” Major Chris Kuhn told the town council. “That left nobody available to respond to calls because everybody was either at the jail, on a call or assisting other agencies.”

Those instances represent a significant concern for the chief.

Staffing for the Black Mountain Police Department represents a “critical need,” Chief Steve Parker told the town council in its April meeting. Photo by Fred McCormick

“We need two more positions,” he said. “In my opinion, as the police chief, it’s not a want, it’s a need. Having three officers per shift is a safety issue for the citizens and officers.”

While the town experienced decreases in violent and property crimes in 2022, a steady increase in vehicular traffic likely resulted in rising collisions, according to Parker.

“I think that’s a result of the population and tourism in the town and we’re now seeing more collisions here,” he said. “Our citations and warnings have also increased, and that’s because we’re trying to go out and do more education and enforcement to curb some of these collisions where we can.”

Parker also referenced a rise in responses related to mental health and overdoses.

“We’re caught up in the middle of homelessness, drugs and suicide,” he said. “Calls for service rotate around those on what seems like an endless cycle.”

The department responded to more than 200 calls related to mental health last year, the report stated.

“Those are calls that have potential for serious ramifications, and they should not be handled by only one officer,” Parker said. “These are people in crisis.”

Most BMPD officers have been trained in crisis intervention, he added, but the department plans to make the courses a requirement for all staff.

“All of our command staff attended a crisis management course last month, so when we have serious incidents we can offer help,” Parker said. “We’re also trying to add a program in the this year’s budget that allows each staff member to meet with a professional at least once a year, so they have someone to talk to if they need more. This is something that’s really needed and I’m glad we’re heading toward this.”