Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch awarded the medal of Merit to Knoxville Police Department Officer Alan Stonerock. Officer Stonerock has been with the department since July 2011.

On May 22, 2013, at approximately 2:13 a.m., Officer Stonerock responded to an unknown type of disturbance call at a residence on Massachusetts Avenue. The caller indicated an elderly man was on the front porch of the residence yelling for help. Officer Stonerock arrived to find the house on fire and immediately called for the Knoxville Fire Department to respond. Officer Stonerock located the elderly male in a front bedroom trying to extinguish the flames with a garden hose. The male indicated there was a female still inside a back bedroom.

Chief Rausch said, "Officer Stonerock quickly assisted the male out of the house and immediately entered the burning structure to search for the missing female. Officer Stonerock was unable to make contact with the female prior to being forced to retreat to safety."

On Officer Stonerock's second attempt to enter the residence, he was able to kick open the bedroom door where he located the victim still asleep in her bed.

Officer Stonerock pulled the female through the house despite her being disoriented and resisting his efforts. Both the male and female were transported to UT Medical Center where they were treated for minor injuries.

Chief Rausch said, "The decisive and selfless actions of Officer Stonerock resulted in the successful rescue of the female who was asleep and had made no effort to exit the burring house. Any lesser actions would likely have resulted in a tragic outcome."