Knoxville Mayor Daniel Brown and Police Chief David Rausch awarded Knoxville Police Department Officers Barry Britton and Steve Taylor the department's Life Saving Award.

Officer Taylor has been with KPD since January 2007 while Officer Britton has been with the department since September 2009.

Chief Rausch said that on December 7, 2010, at approximately 3:56 p.m., Knoxville Police Department Officers Barry Britton and Steve Taylor responded to a possible drowning of a small child at a residence on Mingle Avenue. When the officers arrived on the scene they discovered a 23-month old child had fallen into an above-ground swimming pool. The pool surface was still covered with a layer of ice. The child's babysitter was attempting to administer CPR.

Chief Rausch said, "Officer Britton and Officer Taylor immediately took over CPR efforts. Officer Britton administered chest compressions while Officer Taylor gave breaths to the child. Shortly after they began administering CPR, the child began to respond."

EMS personnel informed the officers that the child was taking small breaths prior to being transported to Children's Hospital. Once at the hospital, the child was breathing on his own and was crying.

Chief Rausch said, "Because of Officer Britton and Officer Taylor's quick response, calm reasoning, immediate actions, and teamwork, the child survived and has fully recovered."

Mayor Brown said, "The entire Knoxville community is grateful to you for your actions in saving the life of a precious child."