KNOXVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT (KPD)

KPD Home Chief's Office Criminal Investigations Management Division Patrol Division Support Services Chaplain Corps Citizen's Police Academy Citizen's Services (PARC) Crime Stats Records & Reports Safety Education | Safety City Training Unit | Training Calendar [PDF] Volunteers in Police Service Misc Links POLICE ADVISORY AND REVIEW COMMITTEE Avice Evans Reid Executive Director 865-215-3869 areid@cityofknoxville.org TO REPORT AN EMERGENCY - CALL 911 MISSION & PURPOSE The mission of the Police Advisory and Review Committee (PARC) is to provide the citizens of the City of Knoxville a civilian oversight committee to audit the discipline process and the policies and procedures of the Knoxville Police Department (KPD). The purpose is to strengthen the relationship between the citizens of the City of Knoxville and the KPD, to assure timely, fair and objective review of citizen complaints while protecting the individual rights of police officers, and to make recommendations concerning citizen complaints to the Chief of Police and to the Mayor. WHAT IS THE POLICE ADVISORY AND REVIEW COMMITTEE (PARC)? PARC was created by the City of Knoxville Mayor by Executive Order, September 22, 1998. It is designed to be an independent agency with the authority to review and/or investigate allegations of misconduct filed by the public against the Knoxville Police Department (KPD). WHO IS ON THE COMMITTEE? The Committee is composed of seven citizens of the City of Knoxville, appointed by the Mayor for a term of three years. No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. The Committee has hired an Executive Director who is a full-time employee of PARC. The Executive Director may have additional staff members, as needed. WHAT IS THE JURISDICTION OF THE POLICE ADVISORY AND REVIEW COMMITTEE? Pursuant to the Executive Order, PARC has the power to receive, investigate, hear cases, make findings on complaints and to disclose those findings to the Mayor and the KPD Chief of Police. WHO MAY MAKE A COMPLAINT? Complaints can be made by any person who is a victim, a witness, or who has knowledge of alleged police misconduct. HOW DOES ONE MAKE A COMPLAINT? A complaint may be filed by telephone, consultation, and/or scheduling an apppointment with the PARC Exective Director at 865-215-3869. Another method may be in writing to Ms. Carol Scott, Executive Director, Police Advisory and Review Committee, Room 538, City/County Building, Knoxville, TN 37902. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COMPLAINT? If the alleged incident has already been referred to the KPD Internal Affairs Unit (IAU), no review will be done until the completion of that investigation. If the complaint has not been referred to the KPD IAU, the complaint may be reviewed by the Executive Director of PARC or it may be turned over to IAU for investigation. The Executive Director receives regular reports from the KPD IAU of the cases being investigated and monitors their progress. At the completion of an IAU investigation, every matter is reviewed by PARC for completeness. If additional investigation is needed, it may be requested. ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT? Yes. After you contact PARC, every effort will be made by the Executive Director to mediate the matter between the offended party(ies) and the KPD. If the mediation is unsuccessful, a complaint can still be filed in the fashion described earlier. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE KPD OFFICER(S) IS/ARE FOUND TO HAVE ACTED IMPROPERLY? Under the City Charter, any disciplinary action, including termination, is handled by the Chief of Police. IS PARC INDEPENDENT FROM THE KPD IAU? Yes! The Executive Order gives PARC the authority to issue subpoenas and conduct its own investigation to satisfy itself that any complaints have been completely investigated. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE OFFICER(S) IS/ARE FOUND TO HAVE ACTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH KPD POLICY AND THE POLICY IS THOUGHT TO BE WRONG? PARC has the authority under the Executive Order to review KPD Policies and Procedures and to make recommendations where it is thought to be appropriate. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH EITHER THE KPD IAU OR PARC? You always have the right to discuss your case with an attorney and seek any recourse available under the law. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF STOPPED BY THE POLICE? The KPD has the very difficult and dangerous assignment of enforcing the laws and sometimes dealing with very violent people. It is quite possible the officer who comes into contact with you does not know you personally. Consequently, he must approach you with caution to ensure both his and your safety. You are expected to treat a KPD officer in the same manner the officer is expected to treat you; with courtesy and respect. Police officers have the authority to conduct a limited search of you for concealed weapons, if reasonable suspicion exists. You should remain calm and follow the instructions of the officer. If you are in a car and see flashing blue lights on a police car, you should slow down activate your turn signal indicating you are going to comply and pull over as soon as you feel it is safe, such as into a well lighted area. If questioned, explain to the officer why you did not stop immediately. You should not argue with, challenge, threaten, ignore or be offensive to the officer. Under no circumstances should you provide the officer with false information. If you think you have been unjustly treated, respectfully request to speak to the officer’s supervisor or request the officer's name and badge number and file a complaint with the KPD Internal Affairs Unit at 865-215-7237 or PARC at 865-215-3869. PARC MEETINGS PARC holds public meetings a minimum of once each calendar quarter at various sites in the city to be available to all citizens. To locate the next meeting site, date and time call 865-215-3869. HOW CAN YOU BRING GOOD OFFICER CONDUCT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE KPD? If you would like to compliment the conduct and/or actions of a KPD officer, this can be accomplished by calling the Chief of Police’s office at 865-215-7228 and reporting your information. Another method is writing to the Chief of Police, Knoxville Police Department, P.O. Box 3610, Knoxville, TN 37927 View Committee Members POLICE ADVISORY AND REVIEW COMMITTEE CITY/COUNTY BUILDING 400 MAIN STREET, ROOM 538 KNOXVILLE, TN 37902 PHONE: 865-215-3869 FAX: 865-215-2211