Tazewell, TN – It’s been nearly a week since a Tazewell police officer narrowly escaped injury after being shot at during a response to a prowler report. Despite the close call, Officer Andrew Harris, who has been with the department for just three months, has returned to work and is assisting with the ongoing investigation.
On the morning of Thursday, December 28, Officer Harris was dispatched to a residence near the intersection of Old Cave Springs Road and Old Highway 25-E following reports of suspicious activity in the area. According to Chief of Police Jeremy Myers, when Officer Harris arrived on the scene, an unknown assailant opened fire, sending five to ten shots in his direction.
“It was fairly close. It was close enough that the officers could hear them whizzing by,” said Myers.
Fortunately, Officer Harris was able to take cover quickly, and despite the close proximity of the shots, he was unharmed. The officer’s swift reaction and adherence to his training were credited with preventing a potentially tragic outcome.
“He’s in really good spirits,” Chief Myers stated. “His training is really good. He’s recovered from it and is back at it and working hard.”
Despite the trauma of the incident, Officer Harris did not take time off following the shooting. Instead, he has remained on the job, helping his colleagues with the investigation into the attempted shooting.
As of this report, no arrests have been made, but Chief Myers confirmed that authorities have a suspect in mind and are confident that someone will eventually be held accountable. The department has not experienced any officer shootings in the line of duty in its history, adding to the gravity of the incident.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to make an arrest soon,” Myers said. “The investigation is ongoing, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure the person responsible is brought to justice.”
The Tazewell Police Department has asked anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, as they continue their search for the suspect.
Though the investigation is still in its early stages, the quick response by law enforcement and Officer Harris’s remarkable composure have been praised by the community.
