APD Pod Squad

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Season 2, Episode 17; Interim Chief Jackie Stepp with Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams, Capt. Jonathan Brown, and Sgt. Noland Brown May 01, 2026

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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 forward.

And from the Community Engagement Division, Captain Jonathan Brown will lay out the new MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the Housing Authority, where it came from, and what it means.

Season 2, Episode 16; Detective Phil Allen, Stephanie Bierce, Senior Police Officer Justin Lewis, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman Apr 17, 2026

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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 Bierce.

From the Community Engagement Division, Senior Police Officer Justin Lewis. Updates on Junior Police Academy signups, Coffee with a Cop, and Truck City at Tanger Outlets, which is on April 18th.

And we’ll go back 125 years with Hannah Silberman, who returns for another History Minute. If you think election integrity is something new, think again, as we’ll explore allegations of a stolen election just after the turn of the 20th century.

Season 2, Episode 15; SPO Taya Overholt, Lt. Russ Crisp, WLOS Reporter/Anchor Taylor Thompson, and SPO Dennis Pace Apr 01, 2026

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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 see how things are going in Professional Standards.
From News 13 - WLOS, Taylor Thompson. April 4th is National Hug A Newsperson Day! I’m sure she’ll be celebrating, but if you see her, ask permission first. We’ll explore the relationship between the media and law enforcement.
And Senior Police Officer Dennis Pace, from Community Engagement. That unit is ramping things up with the arrival of Spring, including preparations for the Junior Police Academy, with applications now open!

Season 2, Episode 14; Deputy Chief Sean Aardema, Detective Adam Roach, Forensics Supervisor Kristen Norman, and SPO Carrie Lee Mar 19, 2026

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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 discuss her new role and the technology aiding their crime-solving efforts.

Detective Adam Roach celebrates his 20th “swearaversary” this month, as the Asheville-area native was sworn in as an APD officer on March 17, 2006. You might recognize some of the other names from his BLET class.

From Community Engagement, Senior Police Officer Carrie Lee, with the latest on Citizens’ Police Academy, Immersion Academy, and Junior Police Academy.

Season 2, Episode 13; Detective Zoe Vertefeuille, Sgt Ian Cooper, and MPO Debbie LeCroy Mar 05, 2026

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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!

Season 2, Episode 12; Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Charley Cox, Det. Aaron Buyanovsky, SPO Blake Fadler, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman Feb 19, 2026

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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 Police Officer Blake Fadler, who joined the unit just recently.

And, welcome back, Hannah Silberman, with a History Minute that takes us back 100 years to 1926.

Season 2, Episode 11; Matt & Amy Stapanowich, Jonathan & Miranda Derrick, and Sgt. Jesse Ramirez Feb 05, 2026

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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. Or, you can email apdpodcastfeedback@ashevillenc.gov.

Season 2, Episode 10; Cadet Jaylan Gaines, Cadet Jonathan Speessen, and Lt. Brian Hogan Jan 23, 2026

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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!

Season 2, Episode 9; Officer Lily Talley, Officer Josh Dobson, Interim Chief Jackie Stepp, and SPO Isaiah Senyak Jan 08, 2026

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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.

Season 2, Episode 8; Master Police Officer Joe Jones, Chaplain Patrick Creed, Captain Jonathan Brown, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman Dec 17, 2025

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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.

From Community Engagement, Captain Jonathan Brown.

And, in the History Minute with Hannah Silberman, early APD Christmas parties and traditions. Some of the gifts were quite impressive!

Plus, everyone will play the APD Pod Squad Holiday Pop Quiz, Part 2! How do you feel about Fruitcake? White lights or colored lights on the tree? Speaking of glowing, how do you explain Rudolph’s red nose? A mystery to this day.

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