Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch named Officers Jonathan Book, Jay Williams and Zach Wilson the December Officers of the Month for the Knoxville Police Department.  Officer Book has been with the department since January 2014.  Officer Williams has been an officer since November 2003 while Officer Wilson has been with KPD since November 2007.

During a series of burglaries in the north Knoxville area, Officer Book, Williams and Wilson set out to locate two known burglary suspects who were wanted on outstanding warrants.  Information gathered in their search led the officers to a motel on Central Avenue Pike.  While conducting surveillance at the motel they observed a male who matched the description of the burglary suspect enter a room.  The officers knocked on the door in an attempt to positively identify that male as the wanted suspect.  

Chief Rausch said, “When the male opened the door the officers were hit with a very strong odor of marijuana.  In addition, they observed what appeared to be more than 2 pounds of marijuana in plain view.”

Three individuals from the room were detained for questioning while members of the Repeat Offender Squad responded to continue the investigation into the illegal drugs.  Upon execution of a search warrant, officers located 15 pounds of marijuana that was packaged into 20 vacuum packed shipping packages.

Chief Rausch said, “This is a prime example of officers actively working leads in and around their beats on a daily basis.  Even though the burglary suspect was not located, the officers’ proactive efforts led to the seizure of a large amount of narcotics and the removal of three drug dealers from our streets.”