A large crowd gathered Friday, May 18, 2018 at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum for the annual Knoxville-Knox County Peace Officers Memorial Service to honor the service and sacrifices of local law-enforcement officers.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed into law a designation of May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week including May 15 as National Police Week. Two decades later, the first National Peace Officers Memorial Day Service was held on May 15, 1982, in Washington, D.C. 

Locally, the annual service recognizes the dedication and professionalism of Knoxville police officers, and local law-enforcement officers who have passed in the last year are remembered. Their colleagues and family members place a red rose in their memory in the center of a memorial wreath. 

Friday's service also remembered these former chiefs, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, officers, detectives, deputies, agents, troopers and K-9s who have recently passed. 


FBI

Special Agent Robert E. Houser
Special Agent Ralph Perrigo


KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 

Lieutenant T. Michael Cheaves
Captain Billy R. Cowden
Corrections Officer Douglas Dean Dozier
Corrections Officer Paul Edward “Eddie” McMillan
Sergeant Terry L. Montgomery
Officer Chester Alan VanWinkle
K9 Dasko


KNOXVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Deputy Chief Rudy G. Bradley, Sr.
Officer Arthur Kelly Byrd, Jr.
Captain Clyde E. Hall, Sr.
Officer Barry L. Hill
Lieutenant Kenneth C. Milligan
Investigator Thomas M. Pressley
Deputy Chief John Dennis “J.D.” Price, Jr.
Officer Edd W. Stair (also KCSO Captain)
Officer Larry F. Vineyard


TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL

Sergeant Joe Creekmore
Sergeant Fred Hillis
Lieutenant Harold Strunk


UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Lieutenant Geddes M. Attaway
Captain Harold James Underwood, Sr.