From the City of Asheville’s YouTube channel: Officers with the Asheville Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit talk about Crash Reduction Areas, an effort that focuses attention on areas with high rates of vehicle accidents. New Leicester Highway, Fairview Road and Patton Avenue all rose to the top of the list in the last year [...]
Three Asheville Police Officers took on new roles at a Jan. 31 ceremony at Asheville City Hall, with two receiving promotions and another filling a major leadership role in the department. Lts. Stony Gonce and Christopher Reece-Young were both promoted to the rank of Captain at the ceremony and sworn in by Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy. Reece-Young [...]
The Asheville Police Department and the City of Asheville’s Traffic Engineering Division work together to promote pedestrian safety. The below video documents a recent operation by the APD focusing on motorists who do not stop for pedestrians, as well as pedestrians who do not cross at specified crossings. The City of Asheville asks that motorists abide [...]
This week, the Asheville Police Department and the City of Asheville celebrated the career of Captain Sarah Benson, who retired after 23 years service on the force. Benson was the first woman to achieve the rank of Captain on the APD. Benson joined the Asheville police department in 1989, serving in many capacities including patrol and [...]
The City of Asheville Police Department celebrated the graduation its largest Citizens Police Academy class to date on Nov. 23. Forty-three people took part in the 13-week program, including seven high school students participating for their senior projects, making this the biggest class since the academy began in 1991. “Any time we can involve the participation [...]
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 [...]