Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen today named Officer Aaron Bowman and Officer Eric Parks as the August Officers of the Month. Officer Bowman has been with the department since 1998. Officer Parks will complete his first year of service next week.

Chief Owen said that on August 24 at approximately 3:19 a.m., officers responded to an attempted armed robbery of an individual near Gay Street and Clinch Avenue. According to the victim, while he was working a female suspect approached him and brandished an activated stun gun. The suspect was demanding money.

Officers Bowman and Parks quickly obtained a description of the suspect from the victim and witnesses and broadcast that information to other responding officers. Acting on their knowledge of their beat, the officers went to the YWCA to speak to the desk attendant. The officers informed the attendant about the incident and provided a description of the suspect.

Approximately forty-five minutes later, the attendant called the officers and provided a name of a person who was staying at the YWCA that matched the suspect's description.

When the officers went to the possible suspect's room, she made the spontaneous utterance that she was "only playing." After being advised of her rights she confessed to the robbery attempt. The suspect, 28 year-old Emily Hayes, was charged with Attempted Aggravated Robbery.

Chief Owen said, "The quick actions of Officers Bowman and Parks were instrumental in solving this violent crime less than an hour after it occurred. The officers' knowledge of their beat and desire to remove dangerous suspects from our community was evident in their actions."

Mayor Haslam said, "Efforts such as these are critical in positively impacting downtown revitalization and the perceived crime problem in the area. These officers are very deserving of this special award."

Both officers will receive a signed certificate from the Mayor and Chief and a free dinner from Ruby Tuesday Restaurant.