Cost of Asheville Police Department missteps tops $200,000 in taxpayers’ money

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The cost of recent missteps at the Asheville Police Department has topped $200,000. That’s taxpayers’ money.

The Mountain Xpress reports that Asheville City Council on Tuesday voted to settle a former officer’s sexual harassment lawsuit by paying her $48,000 and reimbursing her $4,100 in mediation costs. Council also voted Tuesday to spend $175,000 to perform an audit of the police department’s property room after it was discovered that evidence – including guns and drugs – was missing.

There are intangible costs, as well – namely the loss of public trust in the department.