Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen named Officer Joshua Dykes the September Officer of the Month for the Knoxville Police Department. Officer Dykes has been with the department since August 2005.

Chief Owen said that on September 24, 2008, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Officer Dykes was patrolling in the West Sector along Clinton Highway when he heard a report of an auto burglary in progress in the East Sector. Officer Dykes utilized his mobile data terminal to pull up information concerning the call and to obtain a description of the suspect's vehicle. While continuing with his patrol duties, Officer Dykes observed a vehicle pass by that matched the description of the burglary suspect's vehicle. Officer Dykes conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Schaad Road. In the vehicle Officer Dykes noted a large speaker box and a car stereo as well as several small speakers in the rear of the vehicle. Officer Dykes detained the three male subjects while notifying East Sector officers to what he had located.

Chief Owen said, "The victims described the items taken in the burglary, which matched the items located in the suspect's vehicle. The three suspects were then interviewed by an investigator and ultimately confessed to the burglary along with four additional vehicle burglaries."

The three suspects were transported to jail and charged with five vehicle burglaries. The suspects were identified as:

Scotty Loy, DOB 6-15-83, Knoxville, TN Anthony Grimm, DOB 7-17-88, Morristown, TN Robert Silvia, DOB 3-27-86, Knoxville, TNChief Owen said, "Officer Dykes did an outstanding job of understanding the proximity of his location to the report of a felony in the East Sector. When he noticed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect's vehicle, he took a proactive step to investigate the potential suspects. As a result, three felons were removed from the streets."

Mayor Haslam said, "Because of Officer Dykes' self-initiated activity, the innocent victims now have their property back in their possession. We congratulate him on his outstanding efforts to help make the city safe for all citizens."

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