The Town of Black Mountain swears in new police chief

Steve Parker greets public in Town Square

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
November 9, 2021

Black Mountain Police Chief Steve Parker is sworn in by Mayor Larry Harris, Nov. 8, during the regular monthly meeting of the Town Council. Photo by Fred McCormick

A new police chief has taken the oath to serve the Town of Black Mountain. 

Steve Parker, the former chief of the department in Tega Cay, S.C., was sworn in by Black Mountain Mayor Larry Harris, Nov. 8, and greeted the public in Town Square the following morning. 

Parker transitioned into his new position Nov. 2, introducing himself to Black Mountain Police Department personnel, and town staff. Much of his first week has been dedicated to understanding the needs of the community and department. 

“It’s all about information gathering,” Parker said, following a Nov. 9 meet and greet in Town Square. “You don’t want to come in and make changes to something that isn’t broken. So for me, it’s been all about assessment.”

Black Mountain Police Chief Steven Parker talks to Town Council Member Pam King, Nov. 9, in Town Square. Parker, the former chief of the Tega Cay, S.C. department, moved into his current last week. Photo by Fred McCormick

The chief, who fills a position left vacant by the retirement of Shawn Freeman in July, has relied on feedback from within the department.

“I’m assessing the level of services, where we exceed and thrive and where we need to become better,” he said. “I’m still nowhere close to knowing everything I need to know, but the goal is to assess everything as a team and figure out how we want to move forward, together.”

Parker became the chief in Tega Cay, a city of over 12,000 residents located 20 miles south of Charlotte, in 2015. He began his law enforcement career with Mecklenburg County in 1993, and spent the majority of his career with the Rock Hill Police Department. 

Parker is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and has served in training, investigations, patrol, traffic, SWAT, K-9 and narcotics during his 28-year career. 

As he began considering his long-term future, Parker and his wife began contemplating a move to the mountains.

“I was very interested in Black Mountain when the position opened,” he said. “It has a small town feel, and a real sense of community, which was something we wanted.” 

Parker plans to continue strengthening the bond between his department and the public it serves. 

“For years, law enforcement has really honed in on the ‘protect’ aspect of serve and protect,” he said. “But, particularly in this day and age, I think law enforcement is shifting a lot of that focus to the ‘serve’ part. We need to be great at protection, but we also need to be great at service.”

That approach, according to Parker, requires maintaining the strong ties between the department and community. 

“I saw that same sense of security and service in Black Mountain that I experienced in Tega Cay, and that’s something I was drawn to,” he said. 

As Parker settles into his new position, he is already encouraged by what he’s observed since his arrival.

“One thing that’s been great is how the people have made me feel welcome,” he said. “It’s so important, especially when you’re in a transitional phase like this, to feel welcome, and the staff and community has definitely helped me feel that way.”