Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Phil Keith today named officers Bradley Cox and John Williams as the January Officers of the Month. Both Officer Cox and Williams have been with the department since August 2000.

On January 19, 2004, at approximately 3:42 a.m., Officer Cox and Officer Williams responded to an armed robbery call at the Krystal Restaurant located at 5320 Millertown Pike. The victims did not see a getaway car, but a witness from the neighboring Wal-Mart store indicated they had seen a small white Honda car in poor condition parked behind the Krystal just prior to the robbery.

That witness also provided a partial license tag number and indicated the suspects fled towards Buffat Mill Road. On a previous robbery, Officer Williams had recovered a stolen cash drawer near the intersection of Washington Pike and Hale Road. Due to that discovery, the officers decided they should search for the suspect's vehicle on Buffat Mill Road between Kinzel Way and Broadway.During their search, Officer Cox located the discarded ski masks and two pairs of new brown jersey style gloves believed to have been used by the suspects.

With the newly discovered evidence, the officers began searching every apartment complex in the immediate area. Nearly two hours after the robbery, the two officers located the suspect's vehicle parked at the dead end of Breda Drive. The partial tag number matched the number provided by the witness. Spotted in the vehicle was the paper packaging from the jersey gloves. Chief Keith said, "The officers persistence in searching for the suspects led to thearrest of Quincy Towns within hours of the robbery.

The investigative interview of Towns resulted in the arrest of the second robbery suspect, Timothy Calloway. Both suspects were charged with one county of Aggravated Robbery." Information from the interview also resulted in the identity of a possible suspect wanted in eight shotgun robberies in both Knoxville and Knox County. That suspect, Jeriniaha Hall,was apprehended and was charged with eight Aggravated Robbery charges. One of two juveniles involved in the robberies was also taken into custody.

Chief Keith said, "Due to the actions by these officers, four dangerous suspects were arrested and charged with committing nine armed robberies. Subsequently, six guns,including a sawed off shotgun, were removed from our streets." Mayor Haslam said, "These officers showed dedication, teamwork and diligence that resulted in the removal of these suspects that showed signs of becoming more violent with each crime. Officer Cox and Officer Williams are deserving of this special award."

Both officers will receive a signed certificate from the Mayor and Chief and a free dinner from Ruby Tuesday Restaurant.