Officers Receive ''Chief's Challenge Coin''

Two Chattanooga police officers have been awarded the Chattanooga Police Chief's Challenge Coin for their efforts in solving several burglaries.

On April 28, 2008, Officer Rick Engle answered a theft call at Target. A man took a shopping cart filled with electronics out of the back door of the business. A woman was acting as his lookout. This was recorded on video.

On May 2, 2008, the same suspects hit Target again, using the same M.O. The man also stole electronics from Wal-Mart.

Officer Robert Bell investigated the call at Wal-Mart. The man was identified as Ricky Talley. Officer Bell contacted Officer Engle and gave him the name of the suspect in both thefts. A warrant was taken out for Mr. Talley for the thefts at Target and Wal-Mart.

Several days later the woman was identified as Sheila Horne. A video comparison was done with her booking photo to determine that she was, indeed, the accomplice. Warrants were then taken out on her.

Sergeant Pat O'Brien advised these two Officers that a theft had taken place at the Bi-Lo at 5400 Hixson Pike and the Bi-Lo at 3600 Hixson Pike by subjects matching Talley and Horne's descriptions. They had taken approximately $9,000 in meat during the two thefts.

Officer Engle reviewed the tapes from both Bi-Lo stores and determined that the suspects in those thefts were Ricky Talley and Sheila Horne. Warrants were issued for both on these thefts as well.

Talley pled to two years for the Target thefts. The Bi-Lo thefts are still pending in court.

Horne bound all her cases over to the Grand Jury. Both suspects are still in jail.

A police department spokesperson said without the cooperative teamwork of Officers Engle and Bell and Sergeant O'Brien, these cases would not have been solved.