The Knoxville Police Department recognized four dedicated employees and one volunteer for their exceptional service throughout 2025 on Tuesday. The annual awards were presented at the department’s employee appreciation lunch held in conjunction with National Police Week.
Detective Brian Foulks and Officer Westley Williams were honored as the 2025 Officer of the Year recipients, while Personnel Director Brooke Bright was presented with the 2025 Employee of the Year award.
Captain Rob Taylor was announced as the 2025 recipient of the distinguished Mike Waggoner Leadership Award.
Finally, Ty Corey was given the 2025 Explorer of the Year award.
The five honorees were nominated by their colleagues and voted on by the KPD Awards and Commendations Committee, a nine-person body representing a cross-section of the department.
“Each of these employees are outstanding representatives of our department,” Chief Paul Noel said. “Their commitment to our mission and dedication to serving our community are commendable. I am grateful for their efforts and proud of the work the men and women of our department do every single day.”
Brian Foulks – Officer of the Year
Foulks has served with the KPD since 2006 and was selected to receive Officer of the Year recognition for his work as a detective in the Property Crimes Unit.
As one of the department’s auto theft detectives, Foulks investigated 167 cases in 2025, achieving a nearly 50-percent clearance rate that is nearly triple the national average.
In addition to leading complex investigations, Foulks acts as a resource for his colleagues in the Investigations Bureau, including in search warrant and subpoena drafting. He is also playing an active role in the department’s ongoing transition to its new records management system, serving as the Investigations Bureau’s RMS project liaison.
Detective Foulks led numerous significant property crime investigations in 2025, including one that led to the identification of three individuals connected to stolen cars and crimes committed in multiple East Tennessee counties.
In his nomination, it was said that Detective Foulks “consistently demonstrates a selfless, team centered approach to his work. He is always among the first to volunteer—whether for routine tasks like evidence inventory or for highly technical assignments requiring advanced expertise. He readily takes on difficult, time intensive cases and has become highly effective at managing large scale crime spree investigations involving multiple suspects and incidents.”
Westley Williams – Officer of the Year
Williams has served with the KPD since 2018. He started his career as a Cadet, was sworn in as an officer in 2020 and now is assigned to the Community Engagement Response Team.
Williams was nominated and selected to receive Officer of the Year recognition for his consistently high-quality work, attention to detail and unwavering dedication to the people of Knoxville.
Williams was commended for his innovative strategies to apprehend wanted individuals, willingness to take the lead on complex investigations, his sound judgement and compassion.
In 2025, while assigned to CERT, Williams was directly involved in numerous notable investigations and arrests of known violent offenders, including one in May 2025 that resulted in the seizure of over 100 grams of suspected fentanyl.
In addition to his role on CERT, Williams also serves in two other critical roles as a crisis negotiator and driving instructor.
In his nomination, it was said that “Officer Williams embodies the core values of service, accountability, and patrol-level leadership. His dedication, character, and consistent excellence make him exceptionally deserving of the “Officer of the Year” award.”
Brooke Bright – Employee of the Year
Bright has been with the KPD since 2023 and was presented with the Employee of the Award recognition for her work leading the department’s Personnel Unit.
Among her many roles and responsibilities within the department, Bright is an essential part of the KPD’s recruitment and hiring processes. In 2025, the department set an ambitious goal of hiring over 100 police recruits across three different academies. The department shattered that goal, hiring 118 recruits to get the department back to budgeted strength for the first in over a decade.
Bright was also commended for her singular efforts to modernize and professionalize all aspects of the department’s Personnel Unit since taking over the job.
In her nomination, it was said that “On a daily basis, Brooke demonstrates all of the qualities we want in a Knoxville Police Department employee through her professionalism, selflessness, team-first mentality and positive attitude.”
Rob Taylor – Mike Waggoner Leadership Award
Captain Rob Taylor – a 32-year veteran of the Knoxville Police Department – was presented with the prestigious Mike Waggoner Leadership Award.
Named in honor of Officer Mike Waggonner, who has served the KPD since 1974, the Mike Waggoner Leadership Award is presented annually to an officer who exhibits strong passion, dedication and thoroughness while inspiring those around them to do the same. Recipients of the award embody all of the characteristics that the Knoxville Police Department wants to instill in future generations of officers.
Captain Taylor currently oversees the support division of the Field Operations Bureau, where he provides command supervision of the Community Engagement Response Team, the department’s special teams and the Teleserve Unit, among numerous additional responsibilities.
Captain Taylor has spent his entire career in patrol, previously serving as a patrol sergeant and lieutenant, the executive officer for both the West and East District and a patrol officer.
Captain Taylor was commended for his ability to balance the demands and responsibilities of leadership with his duty and responsibility to those under his command.
In his nomination, it was said that Captain Taylor is “deeply passionate about police work and about doing this job the right way. He holds himself to the highest standard and expects the same from those he leads—not out of pressure, but out of pride in what this profession represents. His thoroughness and commitment to excellence set the tone for everyone under his command.”
It went on to say that he “leads by example and serves as a model for what it means to take pride in your work and to hold yourself—and those around you—to a higher standard. Because of his leadership, those around him are better officers, better teammates, and better representatives of this department and this profession.”
Ty Corey – Explorer of the Year
Ty Corey was recognized as the department’s Explorer of the Year, given annually to an outstanding member of the volunteer Explorer Post program.
Corey was picked for recognition for his integrity, dedication and commitment to community service.
In his nomination, it was said that “Explorer Ty Corey has demonstrated professionalism, respect, and a genuine passion for law enforcement…His positive attitude, leadership among peers and dedication to personal growth make him a true role model and a deserving recipient of this honor.”
The KPD Explorer Program was formed to provide law enforcement experience, background and training to young men and women. The program is open to individuals between the ages of 14-20.