APD Pod Squad

Rick Rice

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.

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21 episodes
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Avg 56 min
English

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S3 · E1
Yesterday · 44 min
Season 3, Episode 1; Interim Chief of Police Jackie Stepp, Deputy Chief Sean Aardema, Detective Mackenzie Galyean, and The History Minute with Hannah Silberman
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season Three! In this episode, Interim Chief of Police Jackie Stepp joins us as we highlight some noteworthy items from the past year. No big surprise, it’s a long list! With several major events coming up in the next few weeks—including the G-20 Finance Track meetings, an official PGA tournament event, and the Mountain State Fair- Deputy Chief Sean Aardema shares some insights into the extensive planning these events require. And as we begin Season Three, we invite back a guest from Season One, now-Detective Mackenzie Galyean. She was a Senior Police Officer last time on the Pod Squad, and we’ll get caught up with her. Hannah Silberman returns with the History Minute, with a Back-to-School theme; who were the first school crossing guards? When did APD get its first Student Resource Officers?
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S2 · E24
August 13 · 53 min
Season 2, Episode 24; Master Police Officer Jason Gall, new officers Yahsheem Kendrick and Fraizer Fitzgibbon, and Captain Jonathan Brown
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, with kids going back to school this month, I’m joined by Master Police Officer Jason Gall, one of the APD’s Student Resource Officers, who walks the halls at Asheville Middle School. Also, two of our newest officers to hit the streets are Yahsheem Kendrick and Fraizer Fitzgibbon. Kendrick and Fitzgibbon will begin field training immediately following BLET graduation, and we’ll get to know a little bit more about them and their journey to become APD officers. And, Autumn will be here before you know it. Cooler weather, football, pumpkin spice in everything under the sun, and the fall edition of the Citizen’s Police Academy. Captain Jonathan Brown joins me, as registration is now open.
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S2 · E23
July 30 · 48 min
Season 2, Episode 23; Capt Joe Silberman, Technology Supervisor Jimmy Wingo, Sgt Nathan Dietiker, and Public Safety Analyst A. Coffman
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the anatomy of an investigation. Captain Joe Silberman with the Criminal Investigations Division will walk us through the steps and also discuss APD homicide clearance rates vs the national average. Also, three members of the Real-Time Information Center: Technology Supervisor Jimmy Wingo, Sergeant Nathan Dietiker, and Public Safety Analyst A. Coffman. Commonly referred to as the RTIC, this center isn't fully active just yet, but we'll find out when it will be. What exactly is it, though? What are its capabilities, functions, and limitations? The internet is a dangerous place, full of confusion, accusations, and misinformation, so in this roundtable discussion, we’ll do our best to address all of these questions and more.
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S2 · E22
July 16 · 52 min
Season 2, Episode 22; Sgt Brad Beddow, Sgt Hunter Welborn, Officer Dalton Green, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Sergeant Brad Beddow, who was recently reassigned from Patrol to the Specialized Operations Division, where he'll serve as the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA) Team Supervisor. Also, Sergeant Hunter Welborn from the Traffic Safety Unit. We’ll talk about a fun day for the family coming up at Biltmore Church on July 25th with several local police and fire departments, and we’ll also discuss a really bad week we had recently with three motor vehicle fatalities, two of those involving motorcycles, and the message from APD in the aftermath. Getting to know Officer Dalton Green. We’ll hear about his journey from Texas to new APD officer. And, Hannah Silberman returns for another History Minute, as we go back to July 1911, for the line-of-duty death of Officer Edward McConnell that involved stolen cows.
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S2 · E21
July 2 · 55 min
Season 2, Episode 21; Interim Chief Jackie Stepp, Capt. Evan Coward, SPO II Carrie Lee with Ayden and Carson, participants in the JPA, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman
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?” The Junior Police Academy just wrapped up a fun week, and two of the participants will join me to discuss: Ayden and Carson, along with Senior Police Officer Carrie Lee. And, Hannah Silberman returns for another History Minute, as we go back to July 3rd, 1951, and what was described as “the worst traffic in Asheville’s history.” We’re no strangers to traffic jams, so this must’ve been a doozy!
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S2 · E20
June 18 · 45 min
Season 2, Episode 20; Officers Brandon Collins, Mark Beddingfield, and Andrew Ammons, along with Hannah Silberman with the History Minute
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 joining APD, Brandon served with the Montreat and Woodfin Police Departments and is a graduate of Appalachian State. Mark, who also served in Tryon, comes to the department from the Fletcher Police Department and brings more than a decade of law enforcement experience. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, including one of our newest officers and first-time new dad, Andrew Ammons. He joins me, and we’ll see how he’s dealing with two new experiences at once! And, Hannah Silberman is back for another History Minute, as we go back 75 years to June 9th, 1951, and a call of a man with a gun in Montford “terrorizing the neighborhood”. Find out what evidence led officers right to the suspect, who was inside a nearby house when captured.
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S2 · E19
May 28 · 55 min
Season 2, Episode 19; Sgt. Justin Booth, SPO Travis Pisani, Lt. Brian Hogan with Immersion Academy participants Jackson Knight and Milinda Aguilar Santana, and Hannah Silberman with The History Minute
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 with the Community Engagement Division, and two of the participants in the inaugural Immersion Academy, Jackson Knight and Milinda Aguilar Santana. And, Hannah Silberman with The History Minute, as we shine a spotlight on two officers from the 1930’s who were recently recognized as line-of-duty deaths and added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington DC. We’ll discuss that process and how and why they qualified.
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S2 · E18
May 14 · 1 hr 14 min
Season 2, Episode 18; Capt Joe Silberman, Sgt Scott Muse, Senior Police Officer II Nathaniel Smith, and Property & Evidence Manager John Perez.
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 & Evidence Manager John Perez. His prior law enforcement experience with another agency provided him with a solid foundation for his job with APD. He also provides a valuable service, assisting with Spanish translations for our media releases.
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May 1 · 50 min
Season 2, Episode 17; Interim Chief Jackie Stepp with Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams, Capt. Jonathan Brown, and Sgt. Noland Brown
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 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.
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S2 · E16
April 17 · 53 min
Season 2, Episode 16; Detective Phil Allen, Stephanie Bierce, Senior Police Officer Justin Lewis, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman
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 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.
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S2 · E15
April 1 · 1 hr 16 min
Season 2, Episode 15; SPO Taya Overholt, Lt. Russ Crisp, WLOS Reporter/Anchor Taylor Thompson, and SPO Dennis Pace
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 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!
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S2 · E14
March 19 · 1 hr 6 min
Season 2, Episode 14; Deputy Chief Sean Aardema, Detective Adam Roach, Forensics Supervisor Kristen Norman, and SPO Carrie Lee
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 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.
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S2 · E13
March 5 · 59 min
Season 2, Episode 13; Detective Zoe Vertefeuille, Sgt Ian Cooper, and MPO Debbie LeCroy
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 that spanned more than 20 years. Find out what’s next!
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S2 · E12
February 19 · 1 hr 8 min
Season 2, Episode 12; Senior Deputy Fire Marshal Charley Cox, Det. Aaron Buyanovsky, SPO Blake Fadler, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman
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 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.
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S2 · E11
February 5 · 53 min
Season 2, Episode 11; Matt & Amy Stapanowich, Jonathan & Miranda Derrick, and Sgt. Jesse Ramirez
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 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.
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S2 · E10
January 23 · 48 min
Season 2, Episode 10; Cadet Jaylan Gaines, Cadet Jonathan Speessen, and Lt. Brian Hogan
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 and exciting is coming soon!
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S2 · E9
January 8 · 1 hr
Season 2, Episode 9; Officer Lily Talley, Officer Josh Dobson, Interim Chief Jackie Stepp, and SPO Isaiah Senyak
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 Police Officer Isaiah Senyak, who’s changing job titles soon. Find out more about his new role.
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S2 · E8
Dec 17, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
Season 2, Episode 8; Master Police Officer Joe Jones, Chaplain Patrick Creed, Captain Jonathan Brown, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman
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 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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S2 · E7
Dec 4, 2025 · 51 min
Season 2, Episode 7; Interim Chief Jackie Stepp, Lt. Tyler Radford, SPO Justin Lewis, and the History Minute with Hannah Silberman
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 Minute with Hannah Silberman, we look back at the line-of-duty death of Chief Harold Enloe in 1951. Plus, everyone will play the APD Pod Squad Holiday Pop Quiz! Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie? Is it turkey “dressing” or “stuffing”? What does the ‘W’ in Clark W. Griswold stand for? Listen and subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts, or here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2387956/episodes/18298536 #APDPodsquad
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S2 · E6
Nov 20, 2025 · 55 min
Season 2, Episode 6; The Roast of Chief Lamb, with Deputy Chief Jackie Stepp, Deputy Chief Sean Aardema, Captain Jonathan Brown, Captain Joe Silberman, and Lt Geoffrey Rollins
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 Department, there are a lot of stories, and you’ll hear some of the most memorable. Including: Capt Brown- “Batman and Andy Griffith” Deputy Chief Aardema- “Bike School Bruises” Capt Silberman- “The Protest” Lt Geoffrey Rollins- “Are You Mike Lamb?” Deputy Chief Stepp- “Lamb Chops” And more!
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