Murfreesboro, TN -Sheriff’s Detective Thomas Burnett and Detective Christian Wrather were honored as recipients of the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award from the Exchange Club of Rutherford County Wednesday.

Burnett and Wrather were recognized as the lead detectives in solving the murder of Noah Taylor, 22, of Smyrna.

Taylor was killed in a road rage shooting July 12 near the Waldron Road exit on Interstate 24.

Detectives Burnett and Wrather worked with Lt. Steve Craig and the Criminal Investigations Division team of detectives in gathering evidence for six days before they identified and charged two suspects.

The two suspects are awaiting indictments. They are being held in Rutherford County Adult Detention Center.

Taylor’s mother, Katrina Leonard, asked the detectives two days after this death if they could retrieve her son’s Bible from his car. Burnett promised her he would do his best.

Burnett and Wrather presented her with the Bible and told her about the arrests just before her son’s funeral services.

 “We were able to take a distraught mother and deliver a little piece of good news on the worst day of her life, the day she buried her son, and gave her some closure,” Burnett said. “I sleep better because I’m glad to know that family may get a little bit of closure.”

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Keith Lowery said Noah Taylor’s family had his Bible and knew the suspects were in custody before they laid him to rest.

CID Capt. Todd Sparks nominated Burnett and Wrather for the award.

“Detectives Burnett and Wrather showed tremendous poise and leadership throughout this investigation and utilized every available resource to bring closure to the family of Noah Taylor,” Sparks said.

Both Burnett and Wrather thanked Sparks, Craig and their team of fellow detectives who gathered evidence leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Wrather said the team collected information.

“This was the epitome of a group effort,” Wrather said.