Hendersonville Police Department
Public Monthly Report

August 2025

Chief’s Monthly Summary 

Technology: the descendant of necessity. For the last few years, we have been researching new technologies to help make us more efficient. To that end, we recently installed cameras throughout historic downtown. At this very moment, those cameras are recording, capturing video we can retrieve later when needed.  

If you are concerned, you don’t need to be. There is no facial recognition aspect to the cameras. We don’t receive alerts about people based on what they look like. We can, however, search for specific details when investigating a case. We might search for a white male wearing a red shirt and black pants for example. The cameras will quickly return all matching videos, saving a tremendous about of time. 

Do you remember the recent allegation that a child in a stroller was abducted at the Apple Festival? As we looked at the video to identify a suspect, we unsuspectingly found that the crime never even happened. We then traced backwards through video, and it was clear that no person attempted to “abduct” the child. Multiple cameras recorded the entire incident from multiple angles and with exceptional clarity. Gone are the days of grainy surveillance videos. Today, we record in high definition, eliminating questions about details. 

Just one month ago, we would have spent hours interviewing witnesses, collecting cellphone videos, searching for the truth. Now, we can more quickly solve cases and dispel the community’s fear of crime from the unknown. Our policies highly restrict the use of video to legitimate law enforcement purposes only. Videos are never used for personal reasons or individual interests. We audit ourselves regularly.  

For decades, you have entrusted us with protecting your personal information. We have always been privileged to sensitive information within the limits of our work. We have for years captured every police/public encounter on officer-worn cameras. Officer-worn cameras capture close video and audio as compared to the distant, video-only, downtown cameras. Fixed camera technology is simply another tool in our toolbox to help make our community safer.  

We take protecting your privacy seriously and we are committed to the judicious use of camera technology. We too, as Americans, are sensitive to the concerns of government and privacy. We never want any technology that makes you feel less safe or that might compromise your privacy. We promise to research and only use technology that enhances our ability to keep Hendersonville safe. It is important for us that you know what tools we use and that you understand their purpose.  

One Team, One Goal. #MountainExcellence 

Call Statistics

% change describes the data compared to the previous month's numbers

Calls For Service

• Calls Answered: 5,088: -1.06% 

• Calls Dispatched: 2,979: -1.13% 

Traffic Safety

• Traffic Stops: 363: -1.09% 

• Citations Issued: 172: -2.27% 

• DWI Arrests: 5: +25% 

• Motor Vehicle Crashes: 104: -10.34% 

• Injury Crashes: 10: +11.11% 

Top Five Crash Locations:

1. King St at E Allen St (6) 

2.Chimney Rock Rd at Francis Rd/Sugarloaf Rd (6) 

3. Four Seasons Blvd at Dana Rd/Duncan Hill Rd (5) 

4. 5th Ave E. at Grove St (2) 

5. Spartanburg Hwy at Chadwick Ave (2) 

Crimes, Reports, and Arrests

• Custodial Arrests: 70: -30% 

• Incident Reports: 119: +6% 

• Drug Offenses: 30: -49% 

• Larcenies: 36: -18% 

• Assaults: 10: -17% 

Employee Actions

• Cpt. Hipps, Cpt. Laws, and Lt. Cantwell attended a tabletop training exercise hosted by Henderson Co. Emergency Management in preparation for the Apple Festival. 

• Miranda McCorkle finished her field training and was released to solo duty as a full time telecommunicator. 

• Madison Maynard started as a part time telecommunicator. 

• Officer Dinnall completed her School Resource Officer Certificate program. This recognition signifies that Joreeca has completed 500 hours of related training to enhance her readiness and competence as a School Resource Officer. She is the only SRO in the department to achieve this milestone. 

• Chief Myhand assisted Blue Ridge Community College in their search for a Dean of Public Safety to oversee the Police, Fire, and EMS training for the college. 

• Personnel within the department worked with the city’s communications team and Human Resources to find ways to attract qualified applicants for Police Officer and other positions within the agency.  

Safety Tip – Safe Storage of Firearms

The Hendersonville Police Department encourages you to never store your firearm in a vehicle. Nearly 25% of all handguns used in a crime were stolen from vehicles. We often take reports of guns being stolen out of unsecured vehicles. If storing a firearm in a vehicle is your only option, make sure you use an affixed locked container. Your center console or glovebox may not be secure without modification. 

All gun owners in North Carolina should be familiar with NCGS §14-315.1, Storage of firearms to protect minors, that governs the storage of firearms in the home. The statute can be found here: G.S. 14-315.1 

Basically, it states if you are careless, and a minor uses your firearm in one of the four qualifying ways, you are guilty of a crime. This includes access that results in an accidental, or intentional, shooting of another person.  

Here are four tips to help you stay secure: 

1. Be proactive. Your guns are your responsibility. Make sure your firearms are never accessible to anyone but you and authorized people.  

2. Think like a kid.  If you have small children, store your firearms in locations inaccessible to them. But remember your own childhood and how resourceful kids can be! Make sure they cannot use a chair, step ladder, etc. to access your firearm.  

3. Explore your options.  

• Trigger locks are a simple and affordable option for preventing a gun from being loaded or fired by an unauthorized user.  

• Cable locks block the action of the firearm, preventing the action of rifles and shotguns from being closed.  

• Gun cases come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and price ranges. Most soft and hard cases can be locked with a padlock through the zipper pull or carry handle.  

• Strong boxes and security cases are available at most sporting goods stores and big-box home goods stores. Their prices range depending on how techy you prefer their locking mechanism to be (some have a fingerprint reader).  

• Locking gun cabinets come in a variety of sizes, and are not too heavy, making them versatile to carry up or down steps (with the help of a friend).  

• Gun safes are the most secure gun storage option. Even the least expensive safe is superior to any other storage option in preventing unauthorized access to firearms.  

4. Teach children what to do if they find a gun. Teach children if they see a gun, “STOP! DON'T TOUCH! RUN AWAY! TELL A GROWN-UP."  For more information, go to: https://eddieeagle.nra.org/. 

Complaints and Findings

• A citizen complaint was filed alleging an officer was rude. A thorough review of the incident is being conducted. 

Vehicle Pursuits and Findings

• None

Use of Reasonable Force (UORF) Incidents and Findings

• A wanted person fled on foot from officers while attempting to arrest him. The suspect was tased after refusing to follow lawful commands. He was arrested without injury. This use of force was found to be reasonable, necessary, and lawful.  

• A suspect was believed to be armed with a gun when he threatened to kill someone else. Officers arrived on scene and pointed their issued firearms at the suspect before taking him into custody. The suspect was not injured. This use of force was found to be reasonable, necessary, and lawful. 

Operations/Notable Events 

• Detectives were able to identify two suspects in several copper thefts from Duke Energy’s storage facility on Spartanburg Hwy. Anthony Purvis and Jennifer Summey, both of Hendersonville, were identified and charged with numerous counts of felony larceny and obtaining property by false pretenses.  

• A 15-year-old bicyclist was seriously injured when he collided into the side of a vehicle at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Grove Street. It was determined that the cyclist entered the intersection facing a red light; the driver of the vehicle was not at fault. The juvenile is stable and recovering from his injuries. 

• Officers continue preparing for a silent march and protest in front of the historic courthouse planned for Saturday, September 20, 2025. An estimated 2,000 people are expected to participate. You should plan for street closures during the event. 

• The Henderson County Joint SWAT team executed a search warrant at 67 John Halford Court in reference to an ongoing drug investigation.  

Community Outreach/Special Events 

• Music on Main and Carolina Car Show held its final event for the year. 

• The first Hendersonville Splash and Play Event was held on Locust St. adjacent to Laura E. Corn Mini Golf at Edwards Park.  

Officer Tinoco showing off her patrol car to kids at City Splash Day

• The Elks Lodge of Hendersonville hosted their annual First Responder Prayer Breakfast honoring the men and women heroes of Henderson County who selflessly put their lives on the line protecting and serving the public.  

• The 79th North Carolina Apple Festival was held August 28th through September 1st, 2025, without significant issue. Thousands of people came downtown to enjoy their favorite apples in various ways during the festival. 

Det. Easton and Lt. Bonanno competed in the NC Apple Festival pie eating contest

Budget Summary

• We are approximately 17% through the fiscal year. 

• We have spent or reserved $1,450,000 or 18% of our budget. 

Grants Management 

• There are no active grants in progress. 

Recruiting/Retention

• 0 of 14 non-sworn employee vacancies exist. 

• 5 of 48 Police Officer vacancies exist. 

  • (12) applications received 

  • (2) in background 

  • (0) conditional offer made 

  • (0) rejected 

  • (0) withdrawn