APD Pod Squad

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we welcome back Detective Shawn Parker. Much has changed for him since he appeared on the Pod Squad in Season 1, including joining the Computer Crimes Unit.Also, getting to know a fellow member of CCU, Detective Scott James, the team's longest-tenured member. He’s lived in Arizona, Georgia, and Hawaii. Guess which one was his favorite?   Plus, we continue our new scam series with Detective Corina Rimiller. Part two examines the Jury Duty scam. And another History Minute with Hannah Silberman. We’ll learn about CB Joyner, a private detective who joined APD as an investigator. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we feature two of our Field Training Officers—Senior Police Officer II William Woods and Senior Police Officer II Avishua Millsaps. Who inspired them, what motivated them to take on this key role, and the lessons they hope to pass along to new officers in the field.Plus, we're launching our new scam series with Detective Corina Rimiller. We’ll break down the many tactics scammers use, from jury duty and bill-pay fraud to fake accounts and beyond. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Asheville’s newest Chief of Police, Jackie Stepp. She’d been acting in that role as Interim Chief since Chief Mike Lamb retired in November 2025, but on September 24, the City of Asheville named her permanent Chief of Police. Before becoming Chief, she was the first female Deputy Chief and served as a Captain, Lieutenant, and Sergeant. Also worth noting, she is the department’s only female firearms instructor. With over 20 years at APD, we’ve got a lot to talk about.Also joining me are Detective Ryan Begley and Forensics Services Technician Tess Allen, who worked together on a Breaking and Entering at Duke Energy that quickly identified a suspect and resulted in felony charges. We’ll hear that story.  And, from the Asheville Police Foundation, David Plyler and Miranda Bowman. Founded in 2023, according to their mission statement, “The Asheville Police Department Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to gathering community support and resources to enhance the effectiveness of the Asheville Police Department”. One of the ways they support APD is with fundraising events like the upcoming Boo Dash 5K on October 18th. David and Miranda will share more about that and the foundation.  

Send us Fan MailFor most of us, September 11, 2001, is a day and date we’ll never forget. In this episode, I’m joined by Captain Geoffrey Rollins, who shares his unique APD story from that tragic day.We’ll get to know Senior Police Officer II Doug Williams, who just celebrated twelve years of service with the Asheville Police Department.And, in another History Minute, Hannah Silberman takes us back through a century of history at the Municipal Building as the latest major renovations get underway, the first since 1998.

Send us Fan MailIn honor of Grandparents Day on September 13th, this episode highlights APD’s own grandparents: Detective Sergeant Charles Wells ("Pop"), Executive Assistant Julie Wojcik ("Lolly"), and Records Clerk Dale Andrulewich ("Mimi"), alongside her daughter, APD Administrative Assistant Haley Andrulewich.

Send us Fan MailWelcome 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?

Send us Fan MailIn 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.  

Send us Fan MailIn 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.

Send us Fan MailIn 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. 

Send us Fan MailIn 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!