SPECIAL EPISODE: Congressman Chuck Edwards' 'Anti-Crime Summit'

Asheville's rising rate of violent crime inspired US Congressman Chuck Edwards, a Republican representing Western North Carolina, to convene what he billed an 'Anti-Crime Summit.' The forum happened this past Friday at Ferguson Hall, on the main campus of A-B-Tech.

The Overlook brings you this edited version, focusing largely on voices from Asheville. The complete, two-hour forum is available to our Patreon supporters. You’ll hear about the roots and underlying causes behind the spike in crime, the challenges of battling this crime and what some panelists touted as victories and hopeful signs.

In addition to Edwards, panelists included:

• Mark Buchanan, Clay County Sheriff

• David Denninger, Assistant District Attorney, Buncombe County

• Van Duncan, former Buncombe County Sheriff

• Bill Hollingsed, Executive Director, NC Association Chiefs of Police

• Helen Hyatt, Asheville Coalition for Public Safety

• Esther Manheimer, Asheville Mayor

• Quentin MIller, Buncombe County Sheriff

• Andrew Murray, District Attorney, Henderson-Polk-Transylvania counties

• John Pritchard, Assistant US Attorney for Western District of NC

• Caleb Rudow, NC Representative District 116

• Bob Schurmeier, Director of NC State Bureau of Investigation

• Chris Swecker, former director, NC field office of the FBI

• Zach Wallace, vice-president of public policy, Asheville Chamber of Commerce

• David Zack, Asheville Police Department Chief