APD Pod Squad

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Interim Chief Jackie Stepp lays out the APD organizational changes being implemented. Name changes, division realignment, and the return of the Housing Authority unit. With June being National Camping Month, hardcore camper Captain Evan Coward joins me. I’ll ask the tough questions, like,  “Do you prefer your marshmallows lightly roasted or burnt to a crisp?”   Th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore how lateral transfers are significantly contributing to APD’s progress toward full staffing. Joining me to discuss their transitions from other agencies are officers Brandon Collins and Mark Beddingfield. While APD continues to have success recruiting first-time officers, these experienced transfers are playing a vital role in filling our ranks. Before...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, with May being Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, Sergeant Justin Booth, who is an avid rider. We’ll get to know Senior Police Officer Travis Pisani. May 13th was National 3rd Shift Workers’ Day. Now, technically, the APD doesn’t exactly have a 3rd shift, but he does work nights, and that’s close enough for me to get him to join me. Also, Lieutenant Brian Hogan wi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Captain Joe Silberman of the Criminal Investigations Division. We’ll recap some recent big cases that were assisted by technology like LPR’s and drones. We’ll get to know K9 Unit officers Sergeant Scott Muse and Senior Police Officer Nathaniel “Smitty” Smith. Sgt Muse leads the unit, and Smitty is getting acquainted with K9 Hardy, his new partner. And, Property &a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Interim Chief Jackie Stepp and Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams sit down for an important and timely discussion about technology and its vital role with the Asheville Police Department and the DA’s office. We’ll get to know Western North Carolina native, Sgt. Noland Brown, who just passed the 15-year mark with the APD. So, we’ll look back and forwar...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, with April 30th being National Honesty Day, we’ll get to know Detective Phil Allen, who has a way to determine if you’re telling the truth. You guessed it, he administers the polygraph examinations at the Asheville Police Department.  April is Records and Information Management Month, and I’m joined by the person who leads that department for the APD, Stephanie Bi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the winner of a Merit Award at the recent APD Awards Banquet, and a Superlative Award for having the cleanest squad car, inside and out, is Senior Police Officer Taya Overholt, as April is National Car Care Month.   Getting to know Lieutenant Russ Crisp. April is also National Pickleball Month, and I don’t know anybody as passionate about it as he is. We’ll get so...

Send us Fan Mail The weekend of March 6th was a particularly violent one in Asheville, and Deputy Chief Sean Aardema joins me to discuss the proactive policing measures being implemented and steps APD is taking to prevent further violence. Getting to know Forensics Supervisor Kristen Norman, a North Carolina native who spent a decade in Texas with lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) before returning...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’ll celebrate March as Irish-American Heritage Month, with Detective Zoe Vertefeuille, who has visited the Emerald Isle so many times, travel agents ask HER for advice. Also, Sergeant Ian Cooper, a native of the Boston area whose Irish roots run deep.   From Community Engagement, Master Police Officer Debbie LeCroy, who is retiring after a law enforcement career...

Send us Fan Mail This week, 21 cadets will graduate from BLET, and 20 of them will become Asheville Police Officers. The other one? She returns to her day job with the Asheville Fire Department. Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Charley Cox discusses her experience in the police academy and how it benefits APD and AFD.  Also, getting to know Detective Aaron Buyanovsky and the complicated fraud case that...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we celebrate National Marriage Week, February 7-14th. At the Asheville Police Department, we have several married couples among our ranks, and we’re highlighting two of them: Matt & Amy Stapanowich and Jonathan & Miranda Derrick.  From Community Engagement, Sgt. Jesse Ramirez has a big announcement about the new Immersion Academy, something we teased in th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we continue celebrating a new year with new officers! This time, it’s cadets from the current BLET class, set to graduate in February: Cadets Jaylan Gaines and Jonathan Speessen. From Community Engagement, Lt. Brian Hogan, with some big news about the Spring Edition of the Citizens’ Police Academy. And for those who love the Junior Police Academy, something new an...

Send us Fan Mail New year, new officers! In this episode, the first of 2026, new solo officers Lily Talley and Josh Dobson. They begin their careers together, but their paths to get here were vastly different. As we look forward, Interim Chief Jackie Stepp looks back as we see where 2025 ranked in several important categories.  And from Community Engagement, one more chance to hear from Senior Pol...

Send us Fan Mail This episode has an accidental basketball theme! Two of our guests (and your host) played college basketball. And one guest was a college basketball referee. Find out who did what as we get to know Master Police Officer Joe Jones, a Student Resource Officer at Asheville High School. We’ll also get to know APD Chaplain Patrick Creed. On Sunday, you’ll find him behind the pulpit at...

Send us Fan Mail Following the retirement of Chief Lamb, Deputy Chief Jackie Stepp was appointed Interim Chief of Police. She’ll join us to talk about that and her priorities in the new role.    Getting to know Lt. Tyler Radford, who, it turns out, is related to a baseball legend. From Community Engagement, Senior Police Officer Justin Lewis, with all their holiday happenings.  And, in the History...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a very special episode! The Roast of Chief Lamb; Stories, and a salute to 28 years of service.  Chief Mike Lamb will be in the hot seat, and joined by some of his longtime co-workers: Deputy Chief Jackie Stepp, Deputy Chief Sean Aardema, Captain Jonathan Brown, Captain Joe Silberman, and Lieutenant Geoffrey Rollins. After almost three decades with the Asheville Police D...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, who is Albert Eastwood? His friends call him Bert. Technology Specialist by day, rock n' roll star by night! When he’s not on the 4th floor at APD headquarters, Bert is on stage as the lead singer of a band called Aces & Eights.   Also, getting to know Jacob Kielson, the WNC native who was recently promoted to Detective, and Senior Police Officer Debbie L...

Send us Fan Mail October 29th, 2013, is a day many of you in the APD remember. It’s the day we lost Senior Police Officer Rob Bingaman. In this episode, Chief Mike Lamb and Sgt Scott Fry look back at that tragic day and reflect in this deeply personal conversation.    Also, getting to know Detective Jesse Ramirez, who will soon be Sergeant Ramirez of the Community Engagement Division. We’ll talk a...

Send us Fan Mail October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in this episode, Lt. Diana Loveland from the Criminal Investigations Division, who works closely with the Family Justice Center. We’ll hear all about the great work they’re doing for survivors.  Doug Oeser, the Director of Data Accountability and Crime Analysis, discusses the large role data plays in APD’s approach to community pol...

Send us Fan Mail One year ago, our lives were turned upside down courtesy of Hurricane Helene, the aftereffects of which we’ll be feeling for years to come. But along with horrible tragedy came stories of bravery and heroism by Officers and Detectives of the APD. We’ll be hearing some of those firsthand stories in this episode, as I’m joined by Senior Police Officers Beau Baley, Jose Amaya, and Wi...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 2! The APD Pod Squad launched on August 24th, 2024, just over one year ago. In this episode, the first of Season 2, we look back at the past year with Chief of Police Mike Lamb, Deputy Chief Sean Aardema, and Deputy Chief Jackie Stepp. Hurricane Helene dominated the headlines, of course, but the past year was so much more than that. We moved forward in many ways,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Getting To Know Senior Police Officer Robert Crume, who recently saved a dog from drowning in a backyard pool. We'll learn what happened that day and the latest on the rescued dog.  August is National Black Business Month, and Detective Shawn Parker will tell us how his love for cigars led to his new business venture, which celebrated its grand opening on Jul...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, getting to know Sgt. Ricardo Martinez of Recruitment and Career Development. His hard work is a big reason that staffing numbers are looking up. Also, Senior Police Officer Preston Grondahl, who happens to be left-handed. With International Left-Handers Day on August 13th, he seemed like an obvious choice to be a guest.  SPO Grondahl began his law enforcement jour...

Send us Fan Mail August 1st is National Girlfriend's Day, which celebrates the special bond of friendship between girls, whether sisters or mothers, classmates or co-workers. In this episode, coworkers Senior Police Officer Madison Johnson and Senior Police Officer Angelica LaFemina discuss their close friendship and what it means, both on the job and off.  In Asheville, there are history tou...

Send us Fan Mail July is National Culinary Arts Month. In this episode, Cadet Trainee Julian Lanier tells us about his parents, who were both chefs, how that rubbed off, and his favorite food to prepare. Lanier was a recent BLET graduate at AB Tech, along with 14 others who will soon be patrolling our streets. The next class will be even bigger and taught exclusively by APD instructors! Chief Mike...