Knoxville Police Officer Razmig Semerdjian has been named the Knoxville Police Department’s Officer of the Month for January after what his bosses describe as a cool‑headed response to a chaotic and deadly night on I‑640.
The award was handed out during the department’s night‑shift roll call on Monday, where Semerdjian was recognized for quickly locating and helping apprehend a suspected wrong‑way driver involved in a fatal crash on January 18. Knoxville police say his actions aided the investigation into the collision that left a motorcyclist dead.
Semerdjian singled out for calm under pressure
According to a post by the Knoxville Police Department – TN, Semerdjian was honored for his “composure, decisive action and quick response” after he located and helped apprehend a wrong‑way driver. The department notes the award was presented during the night‑shift roll call and highlights that the officer stayed steady under pressure while the situation unfolded. The Facebook post serves as the department’s public acknowledgment of his work that night.
Wrong‑way crash on I‑640 kills motorcyclist
Per a Knoxville Police Department news release, officers were called around 7:15 p.m. on January 18 about a vehicle headed the wrong way on I‑640 West near the Broadway exit. The vehicle collided with a westbound motorcycle, and the rider was pronounced dead at the scene…