Thirteen veteran Knoxville Police Department officers have been promoted to advanced leadership positions. The promotions will be formally recognized during a ceremony at Sevier Heights Church at 4 p.m. on July 9.
The promotions include one Captain, four Lieutenants and eight Sergeants.
Lieutenant Adam Minner has been selected for promotion to Captain, moving into a command role. Minner was sworn in as a KPD officer in January 2009 and has served in numerous assignments, including as a patrol officer and supervisor, executive officer to Chief Paul Noel and, most recently, as the Training Director.
Minner will serve as Captain of the Field Operation Bureau’s Special Services Division, which includes KPD’s Real Time Information Center, special events and Homeland Security operations.
“Captain Minner has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, attention to detail and a commitment to innovation,” said Chief Paul Noel. “His success as our training director has prepared him well for this next chapter as Captain of the Special Services Division. I look forward to welcoming him as a member of our command staff and seeing him strengthen and further develop our Real Time Information Center.”
Sergeants Brian Baldwin, Michael Cooper, Michael Rupe and Bill Thompson were selected for promotion to Lieutenant, where they will oversee patrol squads. Baldwin was sworn in as a KPD officer in April 2005 and has spent several years as a supervisor in the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. He previously served as a K9 officer. Cooper joined the department in April 2008 and previously supervised the Forensics Unit. He has also served as a Staff Sergeant for the East District. Rupe has been with KPD since 2002 and most recently served as a Sergeant in the Violent Crimes Unit. He also previously supervised the Community Engagement Response Team. Thompson joined the department in 2010 and most recently served as the Sergeant over the Real Time Information Center after previously serving in Forensics.
Officers Floyd Fox, Andrew Keith, Tim Walker, Caleb Coffey, Michael Rubino, Dexter Rogers, Zach Bell and Tyler Wiggins were selected for promotion to Sergeant. Fox and Walker each have more than 20 years of experience with KPD. Wiggins joined the department in 2014, Coffey and Rogers were sworn in as officers in August 2017, Bell joined in 2018, and Keith joined in 2022. All eight will supervise patrol squads.
“Each of these officers have worked hard to earn this opportunity. Sergeants and Lieutenants are the most influential positions in our department, and I’m grateful to these officers for their willingness to take on the heightened expectations that come with their new positions and greater responsibility for the future of our organization,” said Chief Noel.
The promoted officers assumed their new roles on Sunday, June 28.