On Wednesday afternoon, the Knoxville Police Department recognized its January, February and March Officers of the Month during a news conference at KPD headquarters.
Violent Crimes Unit investigators A.J. Loeffler, Allen Cook and Andrew Markham and Officer Richard Wallace were selected as the January Officers of the Month for their efforts to identify and arrest a dangerous offender. Officers Tim Walker and Jason Lay were selected as the February Officers of the Month for their compassionate response to a child experiencing a crisis. Officer Tim Walker was also recognized as the March Officer of the Month, as was Officer Sharon Terrell.
Loeffler has been with the KPD since 1994 and assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division since 1998, while Walker and Wallace have been with the department since 2005 and are currently assigned to patrol in the West District. Cook and Lay have been with the KPD since 2008. Cook has been assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division since 2013, while Lay is currently assigned to patrol in the West District. Markham has been with the KPD since 2009 and assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit since early 2019. Terrell has been with the KPD since 1996 and is currently assigned to patrol in the West District.
The January Officers of the Month, A.J. Loeffler, Allen Cook, Andrew Markham and Richard Wallace, were picked for their efforts on a long-term investigation that began on December 12, when Officer Wallace responded to the robbery of an individual in the 6700 block of Clinton Highway. Officer Wallace completed the initial report and noted that the witness was able to obtain a partial tag number for the suspect vehicle.
Later, while off duty, Officer Wallace observed a vehicle matching the description from the robbery, including the partial tag. Officer Wallace then documented the remaining tag information and relayed that to Investigator Cook. Based on that information, Investigator Cook was able to identify a possible suspect as Deshawn Whited. However, since the suspect had most of his face covered during the robberies, it was difficult to obtain a positive ID from the victims.
Over the next month and a half, investigators collectively responded to eight more robberies of businesses and individuals with a description matching the suspect and suspect vehicle, a silver Jeep Patriot. That culminated on January 20 at around 2:30 p.m., when officers responded to a carjacking that occurred at Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue. In that particular incident, the suspect description matched that of the serial robber. Investigator Markham followed up with the victim and was able to positively identify the suspect as Deshawn Whited.
With that new information, investigators within the Criminal Investigation Division along with members of the Special Operations Squad developed a plan to apprehend Whited, who was determined to be in the 4400 block of Asheville Highway. Once arriving on scene, the suspect vehicle and Whited were located. The suspect, who was found in possession of two firearms and a quantity of narcotics, was taken into custody without incident.
During the follow-up investigation, Whited admitted to the carjacking and possession of the firearms. The suspect was found to be a previously convicted felon. Whited was later arraigned for six counts of Hobbs Act Robbery, one count of carjacking, seven counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Investigators Cook, Loeffler and Markham and Officer Wallace were recognized for their exemplary effort and dedication to identify, locate and arrest a dangerous offender throughout a long and complex investigation.
The February Officers of the Month, Tim Walker and Jason Lay, were selected for their response to a child experiencing a crisis on February 26.
On that day at around 5:25 p.m., officers received a report that a 10-year-old child was climbing the carport awning of the Second United Methodist Church on Western Avenue. An update shortly after the initial report indicated that the child had made it to the roof of the awning. Upon officer arrival, the child was found to be extremely upset and exhibiting signs of emotional and mental distress.
Due to the circumstances, the on-duty West District supervisor responded to the scene. Upon the on-duty supervisor’s arrival, the child was seen making continued attempts to actively climb the fence. However, Officer Walker gently prevented him from doing so and continued to carefully speak to him in comforting tones. After several minutes, Officer Walker was able to calm the child. Through continued conversation, he learned that the child was interested in police officers, specifically their technology, and guided the conversation in that direction.
While Officer Walker kept the child occupied, officers summoned an ambulance for transport to Children’s Hospital due to the child’s distressed behavior and previous concerns of suicidal ideation. Officers ultimately opted to self-transport the child to Children’s Hospital. After speaking with the child and gleaning that he was receptive to the idea, Officer Walker put the child in the front seat of his car and transported him to the hospital. Officer Walker even let the child tap the siren and turn on the lights in the parking lot in a continued effort to build rapport. Officer Lay then followed Officer Walker to the hospital.
Once arriving at the hospital at the tail end of a 12-hour shift, Officers Walker and Lay stayed with the child until the parents could arrive. Going a step further, they also took the child to McDonald’s on Cumberland Avenue to get him something to eat while waiting for the parents to arrive.
The KPD Awards and Commendation Committee selected Officers Walker and Lay for their compassionate, thoughtful and empathetic response to a child in need.
Officer Tim Walker was also recognized as one of two Officers of the Month for March, this time for his quick response to a robbery in progress at the Buddy’s BBQ located at 8402 Kingston Pike.
At around 7 p.m. on March 1, 2021, officers were dispatched to an armed robbery in progress at the Buddy’s BBQ. Witnesses reported that a male was inside of the business pointing a gun at the manager. It was also reported that the suspect might have still been inside of the business. Within minutes, Officer Walker arrived on scene and pulled into the parking lot. He was told by individuals outside of the business that the suspect was still inside.
As Officer Walker approached the business, he observed a male standing behind the cash register who matched the suspect description. Not knowing if all of the employees had made it out of the business, Officer Walker made the decision to enter the business and engage the suspect out of concern for the safety of anyone still inside.
Officer Walker entered the business and ordered the suspect to surrender. Upon seeing Officer Walker approach, the suspect complied with his commands and was taken into custody without further incident. After safely taking the suspect into custody, Officer Walker located a loaded pistol in the suspect’s pocket, while money from the business register also fell out of the suspect’s pockets.
Once the scene was secured and numerous officers respond to assist with the investigation, the money was returned to the business and the weapon was confiscated. The suspect, identified as Derrick Harris, was found to be a previously convicted felon. He was charged with aggravated robbery, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of a weapon while intoxicated and simple possession.
Following the incident, the Buddy’s BBQ employees expressed extreme gratitude for the response of Officer Walker, who responded to a violent, in-progress crime without hesitation just minutes before the conclusion of his 12-hour shift.
Officer Walker was recognized by the Awards and Commendation Committee for his quick and careful response, which led to the apprehension of a suspect just minutes after the incident was first reported.
Officer Sharon Terrell was also selected to receive the Officer of the Month award for March, earning the recognition for her sustained efforts to address a drug complaint.
On March 18, 2021, Officer Terrell proactively responded to a call of possible drug deals taking place in the parking lot behind the Holiday Inn on Papermill Drive. Officer Terrell had been working on a drug complaint from that location from several weeks prior to the call and had formed a relationship with a maintenance staff member who had observed the activity.
Officer Terrell made contact with that maintenance staff member, who advised that numerous cars were in the parking lot possibly waiting on the dealer to arrive. With that information, Officer Terrell requested for additional units to respond to the area and positioned those units to minimize the possibility of the dealer’s escape. Shortly after, the suspect vehicle arrived on scene and attempted to flee when officers approached. However, due to Terrell’s preemptive strategic planning, the vehicle was stopped and the two suspects were taken into custody.
The two suspects were booked into the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. The suspects, both out of Detroit, Michigan, were ultimately found in possession of a bag containing approximately 140 grams of fentanyl with a street value of around $14,000. Additional charges are pending on the suspects following further investigation by the Organized Crime Unit.
The Awards and Commendation Committee selected Officer Terrell for her diligence in addressing a problem in her district, which resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of deadly and addictive narcotics and the arrest of two suspects responsible for bringing it into the community.