Information from the community remains one of the most important tools officers use when cracking cases. Community policing, in the form of observations and tips, often offers the best set of eyes and ears a department has. That’s why the Asheville Police Department has many ways to make it easy and confidential to relay information [...]
A big thanks to all of the City of Asheville employees who came out and donated at the Asheville Fire Department and Asheville Police Department Blood Drive on October 24. The drive, held in the City of Asheville Municipal Building that houses both the APD and AFD, saw donors from multiple departments contributing where it [...]
Congratulations to the Asheville Police Department’s John Rikard, who was promoted from Detective to Sergeant in an Oct. 12 ceremony at Asheville City Hall. Sgt. Rikard has been with APD for nine years and has served in the roles of Patrol Officer, Community Resource Officer, and General Assignment and Major Case Detective. The ceremony was held [...]
The Asheville Police Department reminds drivers to be careful and observant as City of Asheville and Buncombe County students prepare to return to school. Please remember that traffic will be congested near city schools and plan your route accordingly. Remember to look for kids at bus stops and be aware of when you need to stop [...]
The Asheville Police Department and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, with the sponsorship support of Target, Inc., will host a local National Night Out (NNO) kick off event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7. NNO is a nationwide, annual crime prevention and community policing event. The local kick off will be at the Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside [...]
On July 19, cadets who recently completed the Asheville Police Department’s police academy earned their badges and the city’s department grew by 20. Gathered at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and accompanied by family, friends, City of Asheville employees and City Council members, the cadets were sworn in by Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy. “You have finished a [...]
On July 9, friends, family and colleagues gathered to mark the retirement of Sgt. Danny Holden and celebrate his 20 years with the Asheville Police Department. Holden has a law enforcement career under his belt that totals nearly 30 years, having come to the APD from the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department in 1992. In 1999, he [...]
As the temperature rises, so do reports of illegal camping in Asheville. Many of these campers are experiencing some level of homelessness. In addressing the problem of illegal camping, the Asheville Police Department and the Asheville/Buncombe Homeless Initiative is partnering with service providers to make sure people in the camps are informed about local [...]
Eight years after the inception of the West Riverside Operation Weed and Seed initiative, neighborhoods in and around the area are transitioning to a new chapter. With the U.S. Department of Justice-funded program drawing to a close at the end of June, the focus will be on building on the momentum and relationships created during [...]
The Asheville Police Department, in partnership with BikeSafe NC, will give a free Rider Skills training session June 23 at the APD’s downtown location. The training session addresses safety issues and rider skills that allow motorcyclists to better avoid accidents and enjoy the ride. APD motor officers will assess riders’ skill levels and give advice customized [...]
On May 15, the Asheville Fire and Police Departments, in partnership with Buncombe County EMS, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department and the North Carolina Highway Patrol staged a mock motor vehicle fatality on the campus of Asheville High School to encourage teens to drive safely. Several hundred Asheville teens attended the demonstration, which was preceded by [...]
On Monday, May 14, members of the Asheville Police Department and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office teamed up to participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit the Special Olympics. The group escorted the torch through Black Mountain before passing it on to the Old Fort Police Department to continue its trip east. From left to [...]