Knox County RFC Recognizes National Forensic Science Week
September 21, 2026, 9:27 p.m.

KNOXVILLE - Forensic scientists are often dubbed the secret weapon of law enforcement – they’re the people who work mostly behind the scenes, fighting crime with DNA, fingerprints, skeletal remains, clothing, toxicology and much more.

They identified the victims of decades of cold cases and discovered new drugs that have hit the streets and warn the public of their dangers.

“The work is important, difficult and stressful, and more often than not, it happens in the background,” said Chris Thomas, director and chief administrative officer of the Knox County Regional Forensic Center. “But it always makes a difference – whether we are working alone or alongside the Department of Homeland Security or the DEA, for example.”

This week, the Knox County RFC will recognize National Forensic Science Week, an annual event celebrated during the third full week of September (Sept. 20-26, 2026), by highlighting the roles the RFC’s forensic science professionals contribute to public safety.

“We want to honor our team for their hard work and let the public see the essential roles forensic science plays in advancing investigations, solving crime and supporting the administration of justice,” Thomas said. “The field can be very diverse and specialized.”

As part of the week-long celebration, the Knox County RFC will launch a digital campaign on its Facebook page to educate the public about the center’s various forensic scientific disciplines and share insights about lab operations. The campaign will feature medicolegal death investigators, medical examiners, forensic pathologists, support personnel, and other dedicated and skilled professionals who play a crucial and often underrecognized role in public health and safety.

The RFC, which operates 24/7, 365 days each year, performs autopsies for 23 counties and is the official medical examiner for Knox, Anderson, and Blount counties.

Its mission is to provide accurate, timely, compassionate, and professional death investigative services for the residents of the counties it serves; identify and develop an understanding of sudden, unexpected, and unnatural deaths; educate the public about those deaths; assist law enforcement agencies in their investigations; offer consultation to medical professionals and attorneys; render unbiased opinions and testimony in court; and extend research support for local and national medical, legal, academic, and law enforcement organizations.