Knoxville, TN (WOKI) On Sunday morning, Knoxville Police Department Chief Paul Noel announced the death of Officer Wisbens Antoine, a member of the 2023-B Basic Recruit Class.
According to KPD, Antoine, 32, collapsed during a routine physical training session at the end of a mile-and-a-half run on Friday afternoon. KPD reports that the reasons for the collapse are still unknown. KPD also reports that training staff attempted CPR and other life-saving techniques, including using an AED device.
As part of an official release issued Sunday, KPD officials say Antoine was taken to the UT Medical Center via AMR and admitted into the ICU late Friday night in critical condition. They say that late Saturday night, Anotine’s condition quickly worsened, and he passed away peacefully around 4 a.m. Sunday morning.
Antoine joined the KPD in 2023 as a Public Safety Recruit and started the basic recruit academy on September 25, 2023. According to Chief Noel, Antoine took the oath to officially become a police officer from his hospital bed before he passed away. He was to be sworn in as a KPD officer alongside of his 18 classmates on Monday, March 4.
To honor Antoine, KPD has placed a cruiser at the front entrance of the Public Safety Complex located at 1650 Huron Street.
Community members are invited to leave tributes in recognition of Antoine’s commitment to serving Knoxville and the KPD, the department said.
