February 17, 2014 - Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch today named Officer Terry Pate the October Officer of the Month for the Knoxville Police Department. Officer Pate has been with KPD since December 1999.

Chief Rausch said that on October 17, 2013, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Officer Pate was on his way home when he heard officers were responding to a carjacking in a Gay Street business parking lot. Instead of continuing home, Officer Pate responded to the area in an attempt to use his undercover car and plain clothes attire to help search for the vehicle and suspect.

Chief Rausch said, "As Officer Pate made his way onto Broadway, he asked dispatch to repeat the description of the vehicle and the suspect. Officer Pate immediately replied that he was behind the vehicle."

Officer Pate continued to follow the vehicle while waiting for marked units to respond. The suspect pulled into a convenient store parking lot and parked on the side of the building. The suspect then pulled a hoodie over his head, placed sunglasses on, and ran into the store. The suspect nervously moved around the store before exiting a short time later. Patrol units immediately placed the suspect into custody.

Chief Rausch said, "Officer Pate chose to forego a rare evening of arriving home at a reasonable hour in order to assist other officers in locating the suspect. Officer Pate never quits and he never says no to assist his fellow officers."

The suspect, Eddie Sawyer (DOB 2-7-76), had prior arrests and convictions for manslaughter, robbery, burglary and escape. The knife used to facilitate the carjacking as well as a small amount of crack cocaine was found in his possession. Sawyer was charged with Carjacking, Aggravated Robbery, and Possession of Cocaine.

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