APD Pod Squad
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.
Episodes
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 some pickleball pointers and ...
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 to the Tar Heel state. We’ll also di...
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. Fin...
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 t...
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 questi...
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!
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 chang...
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 alway...
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 ...
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...
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 Comm...
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...
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 L...
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 DeGr...
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...
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 ...
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...
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 t...
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...
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". F...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com