KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knox County Sheriff’s Office gave Deputy Matt Kirchner the 2025 Deputy of the Year and the Medal of Valor awards for helping drag Deputy Dalton Swanger to safety after he was struck in the head with a rock.
On June 21, Kirchner, Swanger, and Deputy Gendreau responded to reports of possible shots fired in Powell. They made contact with a man who, according to KCSO, started throwing large rocks at them. A rock struck Kirchner who kept confronting the man, KCSO said. After this, another rock hit Swanger, critically injuring him.
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“Demonstrating extraordinary courage and composure, Deputy Kirchner acted immediately, coordinating with Deputy Gendreau and swiftly dragging Deputy Swanger approximately 20 yards to safety,” KCSO said. “Refusing to retreat, Deputy Kirchner reengaged the ongoing threat and pushed back into the tree line to regain visual contact with the suspect.”
According to KCSO, he was instrumental in catching the man who threw the rocks. The incident was captured on live TV. Swanger was hospitalized for two weeks after the injury and has undergone multiple surgeries. The man who KCSO said threw the rocks faces charges, including attempted murder.
On social media, Swanger’s girlfriend, Stephania Pumphrey, said she and Swanger “owe the rest of our lives” to Gendreau and Kirchner.
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In July 2025, Kirchner was injured in a crash, and KCSO later announced that he would have to undergo surgery to amputate his foot…