Hendersonville Police Department
Public Monthly Report

June 2025

Chief’s Monthly Summary 

I just finished watching a new documentary about Hurricane Helene produced by Blue Ridge Community College. The link to that video is here: Helene: Winds of Change (Hurricane Helene Documentary) I encourage you to watch it.          

While watching the video, one major thing stuck out to me. Just a few months ago, every person around here was enduring the wrath and aftermath of Hurricane Helene. For that period, I watched love permeate this entire community. People of all ages, races, and beliefs worked together to help us recover from that horrendous and historical event. 

From my perspective today, I get the impression that many of us have forgotten about that sense of community. Are we returning to our respective “corners” and hating the other side because of differences of opinion? I hope I am wrong because allowing hate to rule us rather than love is far worse than anything Helene did. 

Just last week, as I manned my post for the Independence Day parade, I watched the floats roll by one after another. It wasn’t until when one of the two political party’s floats passed that I noticed a woman on the far side of the street from me. She, just seconds before, was smiling and waving as the floats glided by. I couldn’t help but notice she suddenly turned away from the parade. I wondered why? 

I noticed a younger woman standing next to her, presumably her daughter, who tapped her on the shoulder as if to inform her the party had passed. The woman immediately turned her attention back to the parade, put on a new smile, and resumed her festivities. It became clear to me that she was defiantly protesting that political party. What a terrible example she just set for that younger woman; turn your back on your neighbor because they think differently than you. 

On a good note, a woman bought me a cup of coffee and thanked me for my service just an hour before this incident. Do these two ladies reflect segments of our community? One supportive and one selective?

I bring this up to ask you, to remind you, let us not forget the trials and tribulations we went through. Respect everyone regardless of our differences. Our differences are what make America such a great country. Respecting your neighbors makes Hendersonville such a great place to live.

Take some time to be introspective this month. Take that inner look and decide what you want this community to be. Acknowledge my beliefs being different than yours' and yours' different than mine. That's okay. Instead of turning your back on people different than you, buy someone a cup of coffee and thank them for contributing to the community. I take mine, dark roast, no sugar, and a tiny shot of cream. Just sayin'.

Remember: One Team, One Goal. #MountainExcellence

Call Statistics

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

Calls For Service

• Calls Answered: 5,195; -1.00%  

• Calls Dispatched: 3,122; +1.15%  

Traffic Safety

• Traffic Stops: 329; -20% 

• Citations Issued: 192; -24.7% 

• DWI Arrests: 6 arrests; +20% 

• Motor Vehicle Crashes: 115 crashes; +10.58% 

• Injury Crashes: 7 crashes with injury; -22.22% 

Top Five Crash Locations:

1. Howard Gap at Chimney Rock

2. N. Main St at Asheville Hwy

3. Chimney Rock at Orrs Camp Rd

4. Chimney Rock at Sugarloaf Rd

5. Four Seasons at Thompson St

Crimes, Reports, and Arrests

• Custodial Arrests: 80, +3% 

• Incident Reports: 99, -9% 

• Drug Offenses: 41, -16% 

• Larcenies: 28, +12% 

• Assaults: 11, +10% 

Employee Actions

• Sergeant Kyle Gyurina completed the Law Enforcement Leadership Academy (LELA) at AB Tech. This multi-month program is highly regarded in developing policing leaders.  

Sgt. Gyurina  after completing the LELA program

• Sworn staff are involved in driver training at AB Tech. This training is designed to teach officers how to drive precisely in difficult environments. This is part of a progressive training program. 

• Recruits April Cameron and Emmanuel Hernandez graduated Basic Law Enforcement Training at AB Tech. Both Officers have subsequently been sworn in and are in field training. 

• Cpt. Laws and Chief Myhand attended the NCFBINAA Sumer Conference where Chief Myhand participated in a three-person presentation and panel about Helene response in western North Carolina. 

Safety Tip – Summer Safety Tips for Driving on Wet Roads

1. Reduce your speed to account for longer stopping distances.   

2. Increase the distance from the vehicle in front to increase reaction times and account for longer stopping distances when on wet roads.  

3. Use low-beam headlights that make your vehicle more visible to other drivers.  

4. Steer and brake smoothly to help maintain control of your vehicle. 

5. Avoid driving through deep puddles to maintain traction with the road.  

6. Ensure your tires have adequate tread depth for good grip on wet surfaces.  

7. Ensure your windshield wipers are in good condition to maintain clear visibility.  

8. Avoid using cruise control on wet roads. If your tires hydroplane, the system might not react appropriately and cause a loss of control.  

9. If you start to hydroplane, ease off the accelerator, avoid braking or turning sharply, and steer gently in the direction you want to go until you regain control.  

Complaints and Findings

• A citizen complaint was received regarding an officer’s demeanor during an arrest. The department is conducting a thorough review of the incident, and the outcome is currently pending. 

• An external complaint was received concerning an officer’s conduct while off duty. Following a thorough investigation, the complaint was sustained. 

Vehicle Pursuits and Findings

• HPD assisted Laurel Park PD during the pursuit of a vehicle after the driver nearly struck the LPPD vehicle. The pursuit ended quickly when the suspect crashed his vehicle. No other people were injured. The driver was arrested and charged with Careless and Reckless Driving, Flee to Elude, Resisting, No Operators License, No Insurance, Damage to Property, and Hit and Run with Property Damage. The pursuit was deemed compliant with policy.  

Use of Reasonable Force (UORF) Incidents and Findings

• While investigating an incident of driving while impaired, the suspect fled on foot from officers. The suspect fell to the ground and was taken into custody without further incident. There were no injuries in this incident. This use of force was reviewed and found to have been reasonable and necessary.  

• While attempting to detain a larceny suspect, the suspect refused to follow lawful commands. The suspect pulled away from the officer when the officer attempted to handcuff the suspect. The officer then forced the suspect to the ground where resistance was stopped, and the suspect was handcuffed. The suspect suffered a minor abrasion to the knee. The officer was not injured. This use of force was reviewed and found to have been reasonable and necessary.  

Operations/Notable Events 

• Detectives assisted the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office in executing a search warrant on a subject that was in possession of child pornography. Our agency has joined a county-wide task force that investigates and combats child sex crimes. 

• The North Carolina League of Municipalities assessed the department for our third award of the Risk Reduction Review. We are awaiting their report and expecting the award soon. The Risk Reduction Review focuses on the high liability areas within a police department to help us adhere to safety standards and reduce our risk of injury and/or liability. 

Budget Summary

• We are approximately 100% through the fiscal year. 

• We have spent or reserved $6,906,670 or 95% of our budget. 

• View the FY25-26 Adopted City of Hendersonville Budget

Community Outreach/Special Events 

• Several officers participated in National Donut Day by “working” the drive-thru window at Dunkin Donuts on Spartanburg Highway. 

Officer Garcia greets community members with a free donut on National Donut Day

• Several officers attended the grand opening of the remodeled Harris Teeter store. 

• 34th Annual Antique & Vintage Show. This event had approximately 100 vendors and was hosted on Main St between 1st Ave and 6th Ave. 

• “No Kings” protest was held at Historic Courthouse. Approximately 2,000 people marched and rallied in the 100 block of N. Main Street to protest President Trump.  

• Rhythm & Brews Concert Event Series 

• Car Show and Music on Main Event 

• Deep Impact Ministry Project associated with Baptist on Mission brought food for HPD staff. We broke bread together and had a great conversation. 

• Sgt. Gyurina, and Officers Tinoco and Trejo represented the Hendersonville Police Department at a job fair hosted by AB Tech. 

Officers Tinoco and Trejo at the AB Tech job fair

Grants Management 

• GHSP Grant – Applied for grant for Overtime Enforcement Activities – Not awarded for FY26 

Recruiting/Retention

• 0 of 14 non-sworn employee vacancies exist. 

• 5 of 48 Police Officer vacancies exist. 

  • (5) applications received 

  • (2) in background 

  • (1) conditional offer made 

  • (0) rejected 

  • (1) withdrawn