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Meet the men and women behind the badge at the Asheville Police Department. Cold cases, conversations, community engagement, and questions and answers with Police Chief Mike Lamb. Hosted by Public Information Officer Rick Rice.
40 Episodes
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Send a text 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 that spanned more than 20 years. Find out what’s next!
Send a text 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 he began investigating as a part of the intern program. From Community Engagement, Senior P...
Send a text 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 the last episode. If you’ve got a question or suggestion, call 828-250-8800 and leave a voicemail. ...
Send a text 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 and exciting is coming soon!
Send a text 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 Police Officer Isaiah Senyak, who’s changing job titles soon. Find out more about his new role.
Send a text 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 Temple Baptist Church. But he’s always there for the officers of the Asheville Police Department. &nbs...
Send a text 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 Minute with Hannah Silberman, we look back at the line-of-duty death of Chief Harold E...
Send a text 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 Department, there are a lot of stories, and you’ll hear some of the most memorable. Including: Cap...
Send a text 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 LeCroy shares the latest from the Community Engagement Division. In The History Minut...
Send a text 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 about his promotion and, with November being Native American Heritage Month, his connection t...
Send a text 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 policing. Senior Police Officer Carrie Lee from the Community Engagement Division tells us abo...
Send a text 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 William Woods, and Detectives Sam DeGrave, Albert Ball, and Phil Allen…all recipients of Lifesaving Awar...
Send a text 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, and experienced wins to go with the losses, and we'll discuss those. In The History Minute wit...
Send a text 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 July 4th. Captain Jonathan Brown has an update on the massive response to the Fall edition of the C...
Send a text 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 journey with APD, left to explore another opportunity, and recently returned as a lateral transfer. C...
Send a text 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 tours, coffee tours, beer tours, ghost tours, mural tours, and even APD tours! Yep, it's one of the many ...
Send a text 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 Lamb shares exciting news about the first in-house Police Academy since 2013. Also, the latest in the...
Send a text On this episode…we wish a happy belated Father’s Day to Senior Police Officer, Ryan Begley, who became a Dad for the first time one day before Hurricane Helene arrived in Western North Carolina. We'll hear all about those first few crazy days as a new Dad and how his daughter is doing 9 months later. Senior Police Officer Ann Aiken is also a guest. You might know her as Annie, or even "Stinky Annie". From major awards to viral videos, she’s had QUITE a year. Officer Dennis P...
Send a text June is Student Safety Month, and in this episode, Sgt. Craig Loveland discusses the valuable and rewarding work of our Student Resource Officers and his unique side hustle, which includes a strict "no Macarena" policy. Flag Day is observed on June 14th, and Sgt. Josh Veridal shares what it means to be a part of the APD Honor Guard and why you probably have never met anyone else with the last name Veridal. Also, Community Resource Officer Carrie Lee has the latest from...
Send a text National Police Week begins May 11th, and in this episode, Lt. Evan Coward and Lt. Geoffrey Rollins discuss participating in the Police Unity Tour, a 250-mile bicycle ride to honor the fallen that takes place every year. Also, "Getting to Know" Wellness Coordinator Matthew Eichman, as we celebrate Global Employee Health & Fitness Month in May. We'll hear about all he does for the officers of the APD. Lt. Brian Hogan shares the latest from the Community Engagement Division. An...
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