Blog: City Blog

Shot KPD Officer Honored: 'It's My Job; It's What I Do'

From left: Police Chief David Rausch, Officer Jimmy Wilson and Mayor Madeline Rogero

Knoxville Police Officer Jimmy Wilson spoke briefly with the suspect. Then he saw the gun.

Wilson, a nine-year KPD veteran, was shot at close range in the chest. He was wearing a ballistic vest manufactured by Safariland, which is credited with possibly saving his life. In fact, Wilson was treated and released from the hospital just a few hours after being shot point blank.

On Wednesday, Safariland inducted Wilson into its Saves Club, which honors law-enforcement officers whose lives have been saved by the company's protective vests. Officer Wilson was inductee No. 1,920.

Wilson said Wednesday's ceremony was "very humbling" and that he was just doing what's expected of any patrol officer.

"It's my job," said Wilson, a husband and father of two small children. "It's what I do. We all come out and do our jobs."

He thanked Knoxville residents for their strong community support of the Police Department.

Wilson located a stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a Magnolia Avenue motel on May 20. He and two other officers went to the suspect's room, identified themselves and knocked on the door. The suspect opened the door and fired one round, striking Officer Wilson in the chest. The suspect surendered to KPD a short time later.

Posted by evreeland On 09 September, 2015 at 5:19 PM