ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Six Asheville police officers will soon begin full-time patrols in public housing communities as part of a yearlong pilot program designed to improve safety, reduce crime and strengthen relationships with residents.
Beginning in July, the Asheville Police Department’s newly restructured Housing Team will conduct dedicated patrols throughout Housing Authority of the City of Asheville communities, working closely with residents and Housing Authority staff to address quality-of-life concerns before they escalate into larger public safety issues.
The initiative comes as Asheville continues to confront the effects of the opioid crisis and follows several overdose-related deaths in public housing this year, including three at Pisgah View Apartments, according to the Asheville Police Department…