Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch presented the Medal of Merit award to Knoxville Police Department Officers Andrew Keith and Steve Taylor for their heroic actions in saving the life of Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Lowell Russell.
In the early morning hours of March 13, a tractor trailer drove into the back of Russell's cruiser which was parked on the shoulder of I-40 near the Gallaher View Rd. exit. Russell's patrol car erupted in flames.
Officers Keith and Taylor arrived on the scene quickly and helped free the trapped Russell from inside the burning wreckage of his car. Two paramedics who were nearby also assisted in saving Russell's life.
Sgt. Russell along with Colonel Tracy Trott, TN Highway Patrol, and Deputy Commissioner Larry Godwin were in attendance at the ceremony at the KPD Safety Building Training Room on Howard Baker Jr. Avenue.
The Medal of Merit is the KPD's second-highest honor.