School Resource Officer Honored for Response to Tragic Bus Crash

Communications Director

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

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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School Resource Officer Honored for Response to Tragic Bus Crash

Posted: 03/30/2015
Mayor Rogero, Officer Ward, Chief RauschKnoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch today named Knoxville Police Department Officer Trish Ward the December Officer of the Month. Officer Ward has been with the department since December 1998. 

Chief Rausch said that on December 2, 2014, School Resource Officer Trish Ward was on-duty at her assigned school, Holston Middle School, when she heard officers dispatched to the tragic fatal bus crash on Asheville Highway. Officer Ward immediately alerted Holston Principal Ashley Jessie and responded to the scene to assist with the crash. Principal Jessie went to Chilhowee Elementary where she managed the school while Chilhowee's staff responded to the crash site. 

Chief Rausch said, "Officer Ward immediately went to a parking lot near the crash scene where she began helping students from the buses. Officer Ward relayed student names to Principal Jessie who would look up parent contact information. Due to Officer Ward's help and assistance, questions from concerned parents were being answered." 

Officer Ward helped in reuniting parents with their children and helped to provide calm and organization during a very chaotic and emotional time for all involved. 

Chief Rausch said, "In a thank you letter for Officer Ward, Principal Jessie said she could never understand how law enforcement officers' deal with tragedy on a daily basis and that Holston Middle was thankful and feels blessed to have one of the most caring officers in their building every day." 

"Congratulations on a job well done," Chief Rausch concluded.