The Knox County Sheriff’s Office turned its semi-annual awards dinner into something more than a routine recognition night Thursday, spotlighting a harrowing rescue that unfolded on live television last year. Deputy Matthew Kirchner was named Officer of the Year and received the Medal of Valor for helping pull a critically injured colleague to safety after a June 2025 on-duty assault. The ceremony also honored K-9 teams, detectives, and civilian staff with monthly and specialty awards.
According to the Knox County Sheriff's Office Facebook post, photos from the February 26 ceremony identify Kirchner as both Officer of the Year and Medal of Valor recipient and list additional honorees, including K-9 Officer of the Year Eric Sharp and K-9 Kurt, Detectives of the Year James Hurst and Bo Cheatham, and Civilian of the Year Ann Suter. The post features portraits of the winners and thanks families, agency leaders, and the community for backing the department.
Honors For A Lifesaving Rescue
Kirchner’s top award grew out of the June confrontation that left Deputy Dalton Swanger fighting for his life. During the chaotic response, Kirchner helped pull Swanger from the thick brush so medics could reach him. That frantic scene, complete with deputies dragging Swanger out of the undergrowth and hustling him toward an ambulance, played out in real time on the "On Patrol: Live" broadcast and was later detailed by Law&Crime. At the awards dinner, officials framed Kirchner’s honor as a nod to individual courage and the teamwork that kicked in under fire.
What Happened To Deputy Swanger
Swanger was badly injured on June 21, 2025, while deputies were answering a report of shots fired in the 7800 block of Stanley Road in Powell, where authorities say a suspect hit him with a large rock or brick, as outlined by the Knox County Sheriff's Office. The department shared frequent updates on his condition while he underwent multiple surgeries. Local coverage later reported that Swanger needed a cricotracheal resection, a complex airway surgery, as his recovery stretched into 2026, according to WVLT. Authorities arrested 44-year-old Christopher Michael Hensley and charged him with attempted second-degree murder and related offenses, according to public records and local reporting.
Suspect And Charges
Hensley was taken into custody hours after the televised incident and faces multiple felony counts that local reporting and sheriff’s updates say include attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault on a first responder, weapons violations, and drug charges. Court proceedings remain underway, and future hearings are listed on county dockets, according to reporting by Law&Crime. Prosecutors have not publicly indicated whether they plan to pursue upgraded charges at this stage.
Community Support And Next Steps
In the days after the assault, viewers, fellow deputies, and local organizations organized vigils and fundraisers, while the sheriff’s office pointed the public to verified donation efforts as competing fundraisers appeared. Local outlets noted that an approved GoFundMe was operated by Blue Line Tennessee, even as the department kept posting updates on Swanger’s recovery and the ongoing needs of injured officers. The awards dinner served as a public reminder of the risks first responders take and the long, grinding recoveries that can follow a few violent minutes on the job.
The Sheriff’s Office has said it remains committed to supporting Swanger and his family as he continues to heal, and photos from the ceremony are posted on the agency’s social media. For the full list of award winners and images from the event, see the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
