Vice President JD Vance wants to speak with the Maryville police officer who was critically injured while working his protection detail escort last week, Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said.
Last Friday, Maryville Police Officer FTO Justin Brown was critically injured upon striking a Tennessee Highway Patrol SUV unit with his police motorcycle while working the vice president and Second Lady’s motorcade on East Lamar Alexander Parkway at Merritt Road.
The Vances were in East Tennessee for a Republican National Committee fundraiser dinner held at Blackberry Farm resort in Walland.
Upon impact with the SUV unit, Brown was immediately assisted by bystanders at the scene who, according to the police chief, administered urgent first aid and “played a critical role” in saving the officer’s life.
The officer was transported by American Medical Response to the University of Tennessee Medical Center following the crash, which is actively being investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Critical Incident Response Team.
As of Tuesday, Brown was considered by his medical team to be in critical but stable condition, according to a release by the City of Maryville.
“We know that this community cares deeply about how he is doing. We are encouraged with the progress he makes each day. He is alert, talking, and is in good spirits,” the police chief said in a statement.
Further, Chief Crisp said he met with Vance to discuss Brown’s condition on Sunday and had been in communication with the vice president since the night of the crash about the officer’s condition.
Crisp said Vance “wants to speak with FTO Brown as soon as his recovery will allow it.”
Blue Line Tennessee has set up a fundraiser for Brown, which has raised over $9,375 as of press time.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
