Knoxville Police Department Archives

Knoxville City Council Considering Zero-Tolerance Policy on Racism and Sexism by Any City Employee

July 23, 2021July 23, 2021 Corinne Murdock

Knoxville City Council will be considering a zero-tolerance policy on racism and sexism displayed by any city employee.

Council member Amelia Parker announced that she is drafting the policy. This latest initiative follows a similar policy proposed in the wake of George Floyd’s death last year by community activists, and agreed upon by Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon. That initiative never came to fruition. Concerning last year’s similar proposal, Parker said in an email that the lack of follow-through from Kincannon was disappointing.

Knox County School Board Considering Hire of Outside Consultant to Decide on Putting Law Enforcement Back in Schools; Mayor Says It’s a ‘Waste of Taxpayer Dollars’

June 4, 2021June 9, 2021 Corinne Murdock

The Knox County Schools (KCS) Board of Education is considering whether to hire an outside consultant for reinstating law enforcement in their schools. In a letter submitted to the Knox County Board of Education (KCBOE) last week, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said that the proposed facilitator would be a waste of taxpayer dollars.

“Please let this letter serve as official notification that I strongly oppose using taxpayer dollars to pay an outside consulting firm to tell the district what every parent in Knox County already knows: armed law enforcement officers are a necessity in schools,” wrote Jacobs. “[I] simply cannot ignore that physical security is absolutely critical in keeping our students safe at school. I am deeply disturbed that any governmental body would even consider removing law enforcement from any of our schools.”

Knoxville Mayor Removes Police from Schools After Police Shot, Killed Armed High School Student

May 18, 2021June 9, 2021 Corinne Murdock

Knoxville schools will no longer have a police presence, per a joint letter issued by Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon and the Knoxville Police Department (KPD). The mayor and KPD pulled the plug on an agreement in which KPD supplied officers as security for Knox County Schools (KCS).

KPD officers will be pulled from schools by June 12 – the latest date of graduations occurring. The letter explained that KCS’s internal security and mental health professionals have grown since the agreement took place, making it unnecessary to have KPD assistance.

Mayor of Knoxville Latest Politician to Have Home Vandalized

January 20, 2021January 19, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

The Mayor of Knoxville is the latest politician to have her home vandalized, in a trend that has become commonplace since last summer’s Antifa and Black Lives Matter riots.

“The Knoxville Police Department is investigating after a vandalism report at Mayor Indya Kincannon’s home Sunday night,” according to a Monday report by WBIR. “When officers arrived on the scene, they observed the word ‘Death’ spray-painted in black on the backside of a detached garage at Mayor Kincannon’s house.”

Knoxville Opts Out of Controversial Practice of Sharing Personal Data of COVID-19 Patients with Police

May 13, 2020May 12, 2020 Admin

The City of Knoxville said Tuesday it will opt-out of sharing the names and addresses of COVID-19 patients with law enforcement following a statewide controversy over the practice.

Mayor Indya Kincannon and Police Chief Eve Thomas said that the Knoxville Police Department will leave a state program that allows law-enforcement officers across Tennessee to access a database of persons who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Eve Thomas Sworn In As Knoxville Police Department’s First Female Chief

June 24, 2018June 23, 2018 Jason M. Reynolds

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero has promoted Deputy Chief Eve Thomas to become Knoxville’s first-ever female police chief, WBIR reported. Thomas was sworn in Thursday and succeeds Chief David Rausch as he becomes director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on Monday, June 25. Rausch is taking over the TBI after…

Knoxville Man Creates Bracelets With Bible Verse Featured On Police Department Plaque

August 3, 2017July 17, 2018 Wendy Wilson

A Knoxville man has created bracelets featuring the Bible verse written on a plaque at the Knoxville Police Department that was moved last week because of complaints from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The plaque, which was hanging above an employee entrance, was moved to the other side of the…

Letter to the Editor: Don’t Let America Become Like Soviet Russia

July 30, 2017July 29, 2017 Admin

Dear Tennessee Star, My name is Florin. I am married, father of six and a strong conservative Christian. I am this way for my own and personal salvation and my love for God. Thirty years ago I’ve escaped from the former Soviet regime where Christians were persecuted and killed.…