Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch named Knoxville Police Department Officer James Gadd the February Officer of the Month. Officer Gadd has been with the department since March 1995.

Chief Rausch said that on February 6, 2013, at approximately 2:28 a.m., a citizen with severe head trauma appeared in the parking lot of a drug store on Chapman Highway. The victim was transported to UT Medical Center where he was in critical condition and unable to provide any information about his injuries. Officers searched the area for a crime scene and witnesses, but turned up empty handed.

Chief Rausch said, "Officer Gadd started his shift at 6:30 a.m. and was briefed about the injured male. On his own initiative Officer Gadd began searching the area including nearby businesses for any type of evidence that could help explain the injuries to the male."

At approximately 8:15 a.m., Officer Gadd discovered a jacket with blood on it in the parking lot of a business on Chapman Highway. It was determined the jacket did belong to the victim. Less than 15 minutes later, Officer Gadd discovered the victim's vehicle parked at an apartment complex.

With the information Officer Gadd gained from the jacket and the recovery of the victim's vehicle, Investigator Brian Moran was able to locate a crime scene along with witnesses to the crime. As a result, Investigator Moran was able to charge the suspect, Mark Cripps (DOB: 11-21-88), with Attempted First Degree Murder.

Chief Rausch said, "Criminal Investigations supervisor Sgt. Sean Hejna indicated that Officer Gadd's persistence led to the capture of the dangerous suspect and that it is likely the case would have gone unsolved if Officer Gadd had not located the jacket and vehicle."

"This is an example of Officer Gadd's commitment to the job on a call that did not occur on his shift, but needed the extra attention in order for the crime to be solved," Chief Rausch concluded.