Chris serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Coalition on Crisis and Alternative Response, bringing nearly three decades of award‑winning public safety leadership and community‑centered service to the organization. Chris recently retired after a distinguished career in law enforcement, concluding his service as Chief of Police for the Town of Sylva, North Carolina. Throughout his career, he held roles across patrol, investigations, narcotics, supervision, and executive leadership. He is widely recognized for advancing compassionate, collaborative approaches to public safety, particularly those that divert individuals in crisis toward appropriate support rather than reliance on enforcement alone. Chris holds a Master’s degree in Justice Administration (M.J.A.) and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, grounding his leadership in both practical experience and academic discipline. He is frequently invited to present at training conferences nationwide, where he shares lessons learned on crisis response, co‑responder models, leadership, and innovative public safety practices. He currently serves as an instructor at Brevard College, teaching leadership and criminal justice–related courses in the Master of Public Safety Management Program. A key part of Chris’s service includes his involvement with the Hunger and Health Coalition, where he supported cross‑sector efforts addressing homelessness, food insecurity, and access to essential resources. During his tenure, the organization operated a free pharmacy, reflecting its mission to reduce barriers and stabilize individuals and families in need. This experience reinforced Chris’s belief that public safety outcomes are closely tied to meeting basic human needs through coordinated community responses. Chris also played a leadership role in the Community Care program, a co‑responder model pairing first responders with trained civilian professionals to respond to behavioral health and substance‑related crises. What began as a local initiative has since helped inform co‑responder models now used across North Carolina, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness and scalability. Chris advocated for alternatives that reduce repeat crisis calls, improve outcomes for individuals and families, and ease long‑term strain on emergency and public safety systems. As a board member of the North Carolina Coalition on Crisis and Alternative Response, Chris brings field‑tested experience, instructional insight, and a deep commitment to alternatives that support first responders while prioritizing care, accountability, and community well‑being.