Black Mountain police chief departs

Steve Parker retired from his position as police chief of the Black Mountain Police Department on Monday. His exit follows a five-year tenure leading the department and marks the ninth known departure from the town government in 2026.

The year has seen a series of exits from town leadership and staff. Fire Chief John Coffey left in October to accept a position in Weaverville. Other departures include the town manager, assistant town manager, two town council members, the town clerk, and the building inspector.

Mayor Michael Sobol described the period as difficult, citing what he called a "toxic soup" in the town. He noted that several staff members were closely aligned with the former town manager and assistant town manager. Sobol suggested that their departures influenced the decisions of their colleagues to move on.

Interim Town Manager Richard Hicks stated that employees left for various reasons, including salary improvements and new opportunities. He characterized the volume of turnover as unusual for the municipality. Hicks indicated that either he or his permanent successor will need to address the vacant positions soon.

Sobol believes Parker's retirement may assist the town council in selecting a new full-time town manager. The council is currently engaged in the hiring process for that role. The town has not announced a specific timeline for filling the police chief vacancy or the other open positions.