APD Pod Squad

Latest Episodes:

Episode 23; Cadet Julian Lanier, Chief Mike Lamb, SPO Debbie LeCroy, and The History Minute with Hannah Silberman Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

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 Lamb shares exciting news about the first in-house Police Academy since 2013. Also, the latest in the Community Engagement Division from Senior Police Officer Debbie LeCroy. And with July 15th being the little-known "Celebration of the Horse Day", we'll learn all about Officer LeCroy's love of horses and how that started. In the History Minute with Hannah Silberman, we'll go back to the 1940s and see how the standard work week THEN compares to now. Spoiler alert, we've got it pretty good!

Episode 22; SPO Ryan Begley, SPO Ann Aiken, SPO Dennis Pace, and The History Minute with Hannah Silberman Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

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 Pace with the Community Engagement Division tells us what’s coming up.

And, in The History Minute with Hannah Silberman, in a town called Beer City, it shouldn’t surprise anyone the kind of business owned by the very first Chief of the Asheville Police Department.

Episode 21; Sgt. Craig Loveland, Sgt. Josh Veridal, CRO Carrie Lee, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

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 the Community Engagement Division. And in another edition of the "History Minute with Hannah Silberman”, we go back to 1922 to learn about the Reformatory for Unfortunate Women.

Episode 20; Sgt. Brandon Shope, Sgt. Lucas Lovelace, Officer Trainee Maria Bengel, Crystal Simpson, Joellen Rhyndress, and Hannah Silberman May 22, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The last 8 months have been particularly stressful for everyone in Western North Carolina, as we continue to cope with the fallout from Hurricane Helene. During the storm and the days and weeks that followed, many stepped up and went the extra mile to support officers and their mental wellness. We'll talk with four of them, Sgt. Brandon Shope, Officer Trainee Maria Bengel, Business Coordinator Crystal Simpson, and Mental Health Clinician Joellen Rhyndress from Responder Services.

From the Community Engagement Division, Sgt. Lucas Lovelace lays out Asheville's districts, the officers assigned to them, what they do, and how to get in touch with them. And in another edition of the "History Minute with Hannah Silberman”, we discuss the now-defunct Mounted Patrol.

Episode 19; Lt. Evan Coward, Lt. Geoffrey Rollins, Lt. Brian Hogan, Wellness Coordinator Matthew Eichman, and The History Minute with Hannah Silberman May 08, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

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. And in another edition of the "History Minute with Hannah Silberman”, we go back to 1898 for a Police Chief who survived being shot thanks to a certain part of his uniform.

Episode 18; Capt. Janice Hawkins, SPO Isiah Senyak, Ask The Chief with Chief Mike Lamb, and The History Minute with Hannah Silberman Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, "Getting to Know" Captain Janice Hawkins from the Finance and Support Division. Also, Officer Isiah Senyak with the latest from the Community Engagement Division. The "History Minute with Hannah Silberman” features a line-of-duty death from 1972. And, Chief Mike Lamb answers your questions in another edition of "Ask The Chief".

Episode 17; Retired Officer Keith McCulloch, Sgt Scott Fry, Capt. Jonathan Brown, and The History Minute with Hannah Silberman Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we celebrate April as Scottish-American Heritage Month with Retired Officer Keith McCulloch, who has been with the APD for 37 years. April is also Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and we'll explore that with Sergeant Scott Fry. Also, Captain Jonathan Brown with the latest from the Community Engagement Division. And, in another "History Minute with Hannah Silberman”, an April Fool's joke from 1906 that somebody in the department did not find funny!

Episode 16; 6 Months Later - Looking Back at Hurricane Helene Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

September 27, 2024, is a day never to be forgotten in Western North Carolina. The devastation wrought by what's been described as a geological event changed the landscape and the people that call the mountains their home. On the 6-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene, it's a Special Edition of the APD Pod Squad, with Asheville Police Chief Mike Lamb, Asheville Fire Department Assistant Chief Jeremy Knighton, and News Radio 570 WWNC's Mark Starling. Each played an integral part in Asheville's storm response and recovery. It's a roundtable discussion about what they saw, what they experienced, how they reacted, and where we go from here. 6 Months Later - Looking Back at Hurricane Helene.

Episode 15; Deputy Chief Jackie Stepp, retired Lieutenant Rae Ferguson, Senior Police Officer Justin Lewis, and The History Minute with Hannah Silberman Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, as we continue to celebrate Women's History Month, we’ll feature the first female Deputy Chief at the Asheville Police Department, Jackie Stepp. Hannah Silberman tells the story of the first sworn female officer at the APD in the “History Minute”. Retired Lieutenant Rae Ferguson looks back at the multiple firsts she accomplished in her long career. And Senior Police Officer Justin Lewis shares the latest from the Community Engagement Division.

Episode 14; SPO Mackenzie Galyean, Chief Mike Lamb, SPO Debbie LeCroy & Officer Kora, and The History Minute with Hannah Silberman Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, as we celebrate March as Women's History Month, in the Getting To Know segment, learn what unique distinction SPO Mackenzie Galyean has earned. Officer Debbie LeCroy and Officer Kora both have something to say about the latest in the Community Engagement Division. In the "History Minute with Hannah Silberman", we look back at the women who joined the APD during WWII.
And, Chief Mike Lamb shares his thoughts about the 2024 crime statistics

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected