MARS HILL – After almost 20 years working with the Mars Hill Police Division, Chad Wilson has lastly climbed his method to the highest of the ranks.
Wilson, 44, was named police chief of the division efficient Jan. 1, City Supervisor Nathan Bennett stated. Wilson changed former chief Jon Clark, who was fired in October for, amongst different issues, soliciting nude photographs from Wilson’s spouse.
The Information-Document & Sentinel spoke with Wilson by phone Jan. 4.
“I’m obsessed with taking the helm of this division and shifting it ahead,” Wilson stated.
Although he is solely been sitting on the high seat for a number of days, Wilson stated he has already recognized quite a few targets for the division.
“We wish this division to develop, as in number-wise,” Wilson stated. “We wish extra officers. To be a community-oriented police division, the place the neighborhood is aware of the police division. And to be as clear as attainable.”
In keeping with the city supervisor, Mars Hill Police Division at the moment has six officers, in addition to one emptiness for a full-time patrol officer.
Wilson stated emergency conditions, such because the Dec. 27 incident on the Mars Hill publish workplace by which a person was killed after being run over by a U.S. Postal Service field truck and the September carjacking of a U.S. Postal Service mail service by which Madison County resident Teresa Ramsay was shot within the head, have left the Mars Hill Police Division overburdened.
“We have to deliver in additional manpower,” Wilson stated. “When an occasion of that magnitude occurs, it simply drains the division. We’re not manned like Buncombe County or APD. We do not have that to drag from.
“So, we have to develop, not in that magnitude, however we have to develop.”
Whereas the city, just like the county itself, continues to increase each commercially and residentially, the brand new police chief hopes to take care of the small-town, tight-knit really feel by means of open and trustworthy communication with the general public.
“I am simple. If it is one thing that I can get out, I like for the neighborhood to know, as a result of as you properly know, it is a tightknit neighborhood,” Wilson stated. “When one thing occurs, the neighborhood needs to know. And I perceive that. I am from a small neighborhood myself.”
As for the firing of Clark, his predecessor, Wilson informed The Information-Document the problem was a private matter and he wished to not make a remark.
Wilson was born and raised in Yancey County.
After graduating from Mountain Heritage Excessive Faculty, Wilson earned a level from Mayland Neighborhood School and accomplished management coaching by means of the North Carolina Justice Academy.
Wilson’s regulation enforcement profession started as a part-time officer with Marshall Police Division in 2004, the place he served till he was employed at Mars Hill Police Division in 2005 and started his profession as a patrol officer.
Bennett stated the brand new police chief has developed robust working relationships with Mars Hill residents.
“We discovered him well-liked in the neighborhood, and well-known by residents and enterprise homeowners,” Bennett stated. “All people, all of the stakeholders right here actually, we have heard from lots of them. All people’s given their opinion on who needs to be employed.
“However we had a great applicant pool. I used to be happy that our inner of us met or exceeded all of those who we talked to.”
Wilson was the very best match for the job although, Bennett stated.
“He is a tough employee,” he stated. “He loves that job, and does superb work with it. It simply made sense. So, we’re excited to get going, and to get again on monitor. We have an incredible group of law enforcement officials – lots of expertise, educated employees down there, and we simply need to get them the management to completely make the most of their abilities and do issues right here for the neighborhood that they will be pleased with.”
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In keeping with the city supervisor, the city obtained roughly 50 purposes for the place by means of the Citizen Occasions web site and Certainly, together with regulation enforcement officers with expertise serving with Asheville Police Division, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Workplace, Madison County Sheriff’s Workplace and Yancey County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Changing Wilson because the No. 2 is Mitch Cline.
In keeping with Bennett, Cline has served with the division since 2016, and beforehand served with Marshall Police Division and A-B Tech Police. He earned a cybersecurity diploma from Montreat School in Could.
Cline will now serve within the newly named deputy chief position, which carries out the identical capabilities because the captain.
“The board determined to rename that captain place to ‘deputy chief,'” Bennett stated. “It is the identical type of job description. It is mainly the No. 2 of the division. It handles the whole lot from scheduling, to something the chief wants them to do. It is lots of administrative work, along with investigations and issues.”
The city of Mars Hill will host a welcome ceremony for Wilson Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at city corridor, situated at 280 N. Fundamental St.
Johnny Casey has coated Madison County for The Citizen Occasions and The Information-Document & Sentinel for almost three years. He earned a first-place award in beat reporting within the 2023 North Carolina Press Affiliation awards. He will be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@citizentimes.com.
