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Officer Receives Award for Arrest of Serial Property Offender

      Communications Director

      Kristin Farley
      [email protected]
      (865) 215-2589

      400 Main St., Room 691
      Knoxville, TN 37902

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      Officer Receives Award for Arrest of Serial Property Offender

      Posted: 02/04/2015
      Mayor Rogero, Officer Epps, Chief RauschKnoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch named Officer Tom Epps the October Officer of the Month for the Knoxville Police Department. Officer Epps has been with the department since August 1998.

      Chief David Rausch said beginning in the last week of September, parking areas at several west Knoxville greenways was experiencing an increase in vehicle burglaries. The increase continued into October. During the investigation a suspect vehicle was identified as well as a potential suspect. Officer Epps began to conduct surveillance on the suspect in order to catch him in the act. On October 27, Officer Epps followed the suspect as he began travelling to several greenways. Realizing the suspect was scoping out potential targets, Officer Epps called for additional assistance from Repeat Offender Squad officers. As the suspect left the parking lot at a greenway entrance on Neyland Drive, officers found a parked vehicle that had been burglarized. Patrol officers conducted a traffic stop on the suspect. Inside the suspect's vehicle officers located property belonging to the victim including the victim's school work, calculators, and other personal items. The stolen items were returned to the victim within 30 minutes of the crime occurring. 

      Additionally, a watch was recovered that had been stolen from another vehicle earlier in the month. The suspect, Rodney Rutherford (DOB: 11-16-64, Knoxville), was charged with two counts of Auto Burglary. 

      Chief Rausch said, "In all, from September until Rutherford's arrest, there were 27 vehicle burglaries reported in west Knoxville greenway parking lots. Since Rutherford's arrest, there have been no vehicle burglaries in these same areas." 

      "Officer Epps is very devoted to working repeat property offenders and is diligent in assisting victims and making every attempt at returning their property. Officer Epps not only works hard, but does it for the right reason and that is for the betterment of the department and the citizens of Knoxville," Chief Rausch concluded.



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

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