Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen today named Officer Josh Shaffer the November Officer of the Month for the Knoxville Police Department. Officer Shaffer has been with the department since August 2000.

On November 25, 2008, Officer Shaffer had gone to a personal appointment in the 4900 block of N. Broadway. Due to the nature of the appointment, Officer Shaffer secured his weapon and radio in his vehicle for safe keeping. As Officer Shaffer was walking to his appointment he observed a male subject exit the City Employees Credit Union while carrying cash and a piece of notebook paper. The subject had pulled his coat up around his face and would not look at Officer Shaffer. Officer Shaffer realized that the subject's actions were not right and immediately went back to his vehicle to retrieve his weapon and radio. A witness exited the credit union and confirmed to Officer Shaffer that the subject had just robbed the business.

Shaffer instantly went after the suspect while notifying dispatch to the robbery. As Officer Shaffer rounded the corner of the building, he observed the suspect leave the parking lot in a white Mercedes vehicle. He also recovered cash and a dye pack that had been dropped in the parking lot. Officer Shaffer broadcast the description of the vehicle to responding officers who located the vehicle within minutes of his broadcasts. The suspect, Danny James Burnett, was taken into custody and turned over to the FBI to face federal robbery charges.

Chief Owen said, "The actions of Officer Shaffer are just another example of the outstanding police work that he performs everyday. As a member of the department's Repeat Offender Squad, Officer Shaffer has made criminal cases involving gangs and major drug dealers as well as violent offenders. Many of these cases are being prosecuted in the Federal court system to enhance the amount of prison time these suspects will have to serve upon conviction."

Mayor Haslam said, "We commend Officer Shaffer for his hard work, professionalism, and dedication to his everyday assignments that help to make Knoxville a safer city to live, work, and play."

Click here to view a listing of previous KPD award winners.