March 22, 2006 - Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam
and Police Chief Sterling Owen today named Officer Steve Kaufman the
Officer of the Month for December 2005. Officer Kaufman has been with
the Knoxville Police Department since May 2002.
Chief Owen said that on October 21, 2005, Officer Kaufman was conducting
routine patrols on his beat when he encountered a vehicle parked behind
a business on Pratt Street near 6th Avenue. As Officer Kaufman approached
the vehicle he used his vehicle lights to illuminate the parked vehicle.
It was at that time that Officer Kaufman saw the driver throw an object
out of the vehicle. The passenger door opened and a woman who was
bleeding from a deep cut on her forehead yelled, "This man just
raped and beat me."
 The
driver, who was identified as Gregory Linginfelter, was attempting
to put on his pants as Officer Kaufman approached the suspect. Linginfelter
was immediately placed into custody without incident.
Officer Kaufman walked around the suspect's vehicle and found
a large butcher knife that Linginfelter had thrown from the vehicle
when the officer first approached the car. Officer Kaufman called
for a Crime Lab Technician and a Violent Crimes Investigator to
conduct an in-depth investigation.
Chief Owen said, "Officer Kaufman didn't end his participation
into the investigation with the arrest of the suspect. He attended
Linginfelter's parole revocation hearing in November and was instrumental
in having the suspect's parole revoked."
Linginfelter (DOB 08/08/75), who was on parole for an aggravated
burglary, was charged with one count of rape.
Chief Owen said, "Thanks to Officer Kaufman's quick action,
a victim was saved from a life threatening situation and a criminal
was sent back to prison."
Officer Kaufman will receive a signed certificate from the Mayor
and Chief along with a free dinner from Ruby Tuesday Restaurant.
|
Click Here for Printer Friendly Version
Copyright
© 2012 City of Knoxville | Read
Our Privacy Policy | Email
Webmaster