Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen today promoted David Rausch to the rank of Deputy Chief during a special promotional Ceremony. Deputy Chief Rausch has been with the Knoxville Police Department for more than sixteen years.

Chief Rausch entered the Knoxville Police Department's Recruit Academy on January 25, 1993. In November 1998, Officer Rausch was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He obtained the rank of Lieutenant in June 2002 and quickly earned the rank of Captain in 2006.

Chief Owen said, "This promotion did not just happen overnight. David has been working toward this goal since the day he graduated from the academy. He has continually demonstrated his ability and desire to help make Knoxville a safe place to live, work, and raise a family."
 
Deputy Chief Rausch served on the Knoxville Police Department Special Operations Squad (SWAT) from 1997 to 2007. He is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainer's Association, the Police Benevolent Association, the Southern Police Institute Alumni Association, the FBI National Academy Associates, the Tennessee and the International Associations of Chief's of Police, and the Police Executive Research Forum. 

In 2005, Deputy Chief Rausch was appointed to the Task Force to Develop a Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Knoxville and was appointed in 2006 to serve as a member of the Ten Year Plan Advisory Board. In 2006 he was elected to be a member of the Board of Directors for the Volunteer Ministry Center. The VMC provides a multitude of services to the homeless population in Knoxville with a primary mission of providing supportive housing to the homeless. He currently serves on the Executive Board for the VMC. He works with various charities to coordinate KPD participation in athletic competitions with the KFD and other public safety agencies to help raise funds for these organizations.

With this new position, Deputy Chief Rausch will immediately assume command of the department's Patrol Division, the largest division in the department.

Chief Owen said, "Throughout his sixteen year career, Deputy Chief Rausch has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to this department and to the citizens we serve." 
 
"We are proud to share in his excitement as he takes on a new role for our department," Chief Owen concluded.