The head of Knoxville Police has applied to become the next Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation after a 25-year career on the force. 

KPD announced Police Chief David Rausch has officially submitted his application to be the next TBI Director after a law enforcement career that spans nearly 30 years between his KPD service and stint with the US Army.

Rausch has served as chief of Knoxville Police since 2011. Rausch has been with the department for over 25 years, the majority of them in the Patrol Division. He has served as the Commanding Officer for the Patrol Division and for each of the Patrol Division Districts, as well as the Staff Officer for the Deputy Chief of Patrol. He also served on the KPD SWAT Team from 1997 to 2007.

Rausch graduated from the University of Louisville in 1986 with a degree in political science before enlisting in the U.S. Army. After graduation, he served in the Military Police Corps until 1990, attaining the rank of Sergeant.

In 2001, He returned to Louisville to receive his Master of Science in Justice Administration and graduated from the 105th Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police. He also graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigations 218th National Academy Class in 2004. 

Rausch is an online Adjunct Faculty Member of Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee with the College of Professional Studies teaching various law enforcement topics. 

He sits on the board of directors for several community and law enforcement organizations. These include the Metro Drug Coalition Board, the Knoxville Public Safety Foundation Board, the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Board, the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police as Immediate Past President and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Midsize Agencies as Vice Chair.