Knoxville Mayor Daniel Brown and Police Chief David Rausch named Sherry Smith the June Civilian Employee of the Month for the Knoxville Police Department. Ms. Smith has been with the department since September 2006.

Chief Rausch said that Ms. Smith has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the Knoxville Public Safety Foundation. The foundation has been formed as a means to help officers and their families who have suffered a catastrophic injury, illness, death or other significant life-altering event.

Chief Rausch said, "Ms. Smith took the initiative to complete numerous documents relating to the 501(c)(3) application as well as a variety of other documents that were required to be filed with the city, state, and Federal Government. The foundation became a reality due to her unwavering support and dedication to the tedious tasks involved with the formation of the Foundation."

The Knoxville Public Safety Foundation (KPSF) has nineteen (19) board members and will support the Knox County Sheriff's Office, the Knoxville Fire Department, the Knoxville Police Department, and the University of Tennessee Police Department. The KPSF will be funded from members of our community and others through memberships, contributions of money, in-kind goods and services and other items deemed important to helping public safety personnel and their families.