Knoxville Mayor Daniel Brown and Chief David Rausch named Officer Ron Trentham the March Officer of the Month for the Knoxville Police Department. Officer Trentham has been with KPD since November 1994.

Chief Rausch said that on March 3, 2011, at approximately 4:40 p.m., officers responded to the scene of a credit union robbery at the Enrichment Federal Credit Union located on Schubert Road. The first officers on the scene immediately broadcast the description of the suspect as well as the suspect's vehicle. Approximately 30 minutes later, Officer Ron Trentham was dispatched to investigate an auto accident on Tillery Road. Once on the scene, Officer Trentham noticed that one of the vehicles involved in the crash matched the description of the bank robbery suspect's vehicle.

Chief Rausch said, "Officer Trentham discovered that the driver of the suspicious vehicle had left the scene on foot and had returned to the scene prior to his arrival. Officer Trentham detained the suspect and requested an investigator to respond to the crash scene to conduct an interview with the possible suspect."

Officer Trentham continued his investigation and was able to locate where the suspect had gone, retrieved evidence from the credit union robbery, and also uncovered a marijuana green house.

Chief Rausch said, "If not for Officer Trentham's investigative skills, the suspect may have gotten away with the robbery and continued to commit acts of violence against our community."

Mayor Brown said, "The entire community appreciates Officer Trentham's fine efforts that resulted in the arrest of this suspect."

Suspect:

Benjamin Morgan
DOB: 3-14-75
Knoxville address