Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch today named Tom Evans the 2014 Co-Employee of the Year for the Knoxville Police Department. Evans has been with the department since January 1996. 

Chief Rausch says Tom excels as an investigator and forensics examiner in the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). Tom has both spearheaded and assisted numerous federal investigations for the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspections, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ATF and DEA. Tom has also developed undercover investigations of child pornography and child solicitation that have resulted in multiple arrests in foreign countries.

In early 2014 the ICAC Unit investigated a Cybertip that led investigators to Carter County. Investigators discovered a mother who was physically and sexually assaulting her three minor children. Tom interviewed the suspect and obtained a confession. As a result of the confession and guilty plea, the suspect was sentenced to 27 years in Federal prison. 

Another Cybertip led Tom and the ICAC Unit to Wartburg, TN to investigate the sexual abuse and production of child pornography involving a female infant. 

A known sex offender was identified near the area where it was believed the child-porn was being produced. Tom made contact with the sex offender's probation officer where he learned the possible suspect had a new baby girl and that she was approximately 5 to 6 months old. Tom conducted an in-depth interview with the suspect and obtained a confession to the rape and production of child pornography. The suspect pled guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in Federal prison. 

Chief Rausch said, "These are just two examples of Tom's incredible work. He is a tireless worker committed to his family, job and community. He takes his job as an ICAC investigator seriously and is deeply-committed to protecting children from diabolical predators and criminals."


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