Full announcement from the Asheville Police Department:

The Asheville Police Department is proud to announce the promotion of one Sergeant to the rank of Lieutenant and two Officers to the rank of Sergeant.

Sgt. Mark Byrd is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Lt. Byrd has 13 years of experience with the Asheville Police Department. During those 13 years he has served as a Patrol Officer, Drug Suppression Officer and Team Leader on the Emergency Response Team. He has a Masters in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina.

Detective Louis Tomasetti is promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sgt. Tomasetti has 7 years of experience with the Asheville Police Department. During those 7 years he has served as a Patrol Officer, Community Resource Officer and Gang Investigator. He has a Masters Degree in Management and Leadership from Montreat College. He was selected as the Asheville Optimist Club Officer of the year in 2011.

Senior Police Officer Jackie Stepp is promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sgt. Stepp has 7 years of experience with the Asheville Police Department. During those 7 years she has served as a Patrol Officer and Community Resource Officer. She has a Bachelors in Criminal Justice with a minor in Marketing from Western Carolina University and is currently enrolled in the Masters in Public Affairs program at Western Carolina University. She was selected in 2008 for the Asheville Buncombe Community Relations Council Community Service Award.