Tags: Asheville Police Deparment, police chief, William Anderson

The Asheville Police Department and a tale of two wrecks

Jason Sandford March 20, 2013

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

One of the most galling facets of the current Asheville Police Department scandal, according to insiders, is how Chief William Anderson handled a wreck involving a police officer in January.

In the January wreck, and patrol officer wrecked a vehicle on Interstate 240. The police chief apparently reacted angrily by discipling the officer, Joe Kanupp. The officer, who had a stellar driving record up to his crash but was cited in the January incident, was suspended and the use of his take-home car was suspended for two months. Then Chief Anderson sent out an email saying that from now on, officers would be responsible for paying for damage to vehicles out of their own pocket. There’s also a revised crash investigation policy that’s been issued. This is hearsay information for me right now – I’m working on confirming. It’s a move that upset the rank-and-file, and calls into questions regarding insurance policies the city has in place.

Fast-forward to a couple of weeks ago and the wreck involving a car registered to Anderson and his son, Chad Anderson. Anderson moved to have his own agency investigate the wreck, a move that, on the face of it, would lend itself to covering up potentially damaging information. This was also a move that engendered zero confidence by the rank-and-file in Chief Anderson. Last week, Anderson apologized and the SBI was called in to investigate.

Bottom line: the chief has no tolerance for a patrol officer’s wreck, but shows leniency toward his 22-year-old son.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Assessing latest Asheville Police Department scandal

Opinion: Latest Asheville police scandal shows cronyism alive and well

Jason Sandford March 20, 2013

6 Comments

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withheld March 23, 2013

Jason, send me that email address again

Reply
1. Jason Sandford March 25, 2013
  
  withheld: email adress is [email protected].
  
  Reply
Duane March 21, 2013

What’s with the hearsay, rank and file? Seriously, Jason you report on rank and file opinions? This is a police matter and quite serious. An officer wrecks his car, was it bad driving, was the officer texting, or worse doing something he wasn’t supposed to? A lot of stuff happens below the radar and I’m sure APD will not share confidential information with anyone especially someone who tries to spread malicious rumors or innuendo. How many officers have you talked to? This is not journalism, just sensationalism. And what newspaper are you referring to? The kidizen times?

Reply
Murphy March 20, 2013

Jason who made the decision to have the car towed to the Anderson residence that Sunday morning … it seems to me that if it had been anyone else the car would have either been towed to wherever the towing company “stores” the cars it has towed or it should have been impounded for future investigation … enough time passed for it to have been “cleaned” inside and out.

Reply
1. Jason Sandford March 20, 2013
  
  Murphy, Chief Anderson has said that his son called a wrecker. We don’t have independent confirmation of that.
  
  The police officer who arrived at the scene of the crash also called a tow truck.
  
  The newspaper hasn’t pieced together exactly where the car was towed.
  
  Reply