April 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 4

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY KNOXVILLE, TN. Knoxville Police Officer Wisbens Antoine was in his first day at the academy when he collapsed during a 1.5 mile run and died. The law enforcement community across Tennessee, already reeling from the shooting death of a Blount County sheriff’s deputy and the drowning of a Meigs County sheriff’s deputy, is in mourning again after the death of a Knoxville Police Department recruit. Wisbens Antoine, a member of the 2023-B Basic Recruit Class, collapsed during a training session Feb. 23, Police Chief Paul Noel said in a press release. Antoine was rushed to the hospital, but died Feb. 25, Noel said. “I don’t have the words to express the magnitude of the grief and sadness that we are all feeling right now,” Noel said during a press conference Feb. 25, wiping tears away as he mentioned Antoine’s wife and two daughters. “We are all beyond devastated.” A Knoxville Police Department patrol car memorial was set up outside of the Public Safety Complex in honor of Antoine on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. Antoine, 32, joined the Knoxville Police Department in 2023 as a Public Safety Recruit and started the basic recruit academy on Sept. 25, Noel said. 26 The Blues - April ‘24 Antoine was set to be sworn in alongside of his 18 classmates on March 4. On Friday afternoon, Antoine collapsed during a routine physical training session at the end of a mile and a half run for reasons that remain unknown, Noel said. Members of the police department training staff immediately provided CPR and other life-saving care, including using a mobile defibrillator, he said. Antoine was rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center and died at around 4 a.m. Sunday, Noel said. As Antoine’s conditioned worsened Friday, Noel made the decision to swear him in as a police officer. “There was no better way to to honor his service and his sacrifice to the department and the community than to make him a police officer at the hospital,” Noel said during the press conference. The police department command and training staff, Antoine’s recruit class and Mayor Indya Kincannon were on hand as Knoxville Municipal Judge Tyler Caviness swore Antoine in, Noel said. A fellow recruit took OFFICER WISBENS ANTOINE the oath on Antoine’s behalf and placed his new badge on his chest, Noel added. Services for Antoine are pending, Noel said Sunday, adding that details of a memorial service are still being worked out. A memorial fund account has been set up at the Knoxville Law Enforcement Federal Credit Union. Those wishing to donate money directly to the Antoine family can do so in person or by mailing a check to the credit union at 501 E. Summit Hill, Knoxville, TN, 37915. Checks should be made payable to the Wisbens Antoine Memorial Fund.

PRICE REDUCED The Blues - April ‘24 27