Council honors officers involved in shooting

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
The Russellville City Council honored five members of the city's police force Monday night for their role in a shooting late last month.
"It takes a lot of courage to be a police officer," said Russellville Mayor Troy Oliver.
"These officers all showed a great deal of restraint and did their jobs just as they are trained to do."
Officers Jake Tompkins, Mike Prince, Jeremy Hall, Bill Simpson and dispatcher Reece Coan were all working the night shift on Sept. 30 when they received a suspicious person's call at Hometown Pharmacy on Gandy Street in Russellville.
When officers arrived they found a man and woman walking down the street in front of Concord Baptist Church.
After approaching the two, officers noticed a weapon in the man's possession. He then ran away and fired at the officers.
Tompkins fired back, hitting the suspect, Steve Jeffrey Cain, 49, Franklin 20 in Spruce Pine, in the right side.
"Our officers did an outstanding job and we appreciate their service to the citizens of Russellville," Oliver said.
The offices were presented with certificates of commendation at Monday night's council meeting.
"Our police officers, we well as our firefighters and other city employees, don't get the credit they deserve," said City Councilman David Grissom.
"These officers put themselves in harm's way and we, as a city, should be thankful for their service."