Latest KPD promotions show chief failing to diversify top ranks | Ashe

Police Chief Paul Noel recently announced seven promotions within the Knoxville Police Department. While all may be good choices, the promotions underline once again that Noel has not brought African Americans or women into the top levels of the department.

Noel has the authority to go outside the department to recruit, but he has not exercised that authority. He really needs to use this power.

While Noel has said positive things about hiring a more diverse leadership team, he has not delivered.

KPD has added 18 officers since Jan. 1, while six have left by retirement or resignation. One was fired.

Securing pay raises may help, but the city’s current pension plan may discourage applicants.

It is interesting to see how some precincts voted on March 5. While former President Donald Trump easily carried Knox County, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley won several precincts. Sequoyah Hills voted 57% for Haley over 35% for Trump. Green Elementary School, which includes downtown Knoxville, voted 55% for Haley to 40% for Trump.

At Deane Hill Recreation Center, which is the most Republican city precinct today, Haley won 51% (381 votes) to Trump’s 43% (323 votes).

The same precinct voted 384 (55%) for Phil Ballard and 306 (44%) for Jackie Raley for property assessor.

For county law director, it was a landslide for David Buuck at 515 (78%) with only 144 (21%) for Daniel Herrera. Herrera outspent Buuck but did not come close.

Many watching President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address could not help but notice local Congressman Tim Burchett positioned on the aisle as Biden walked into the House Chamber sitting next to far-right Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida. One has to secure such a well-positioned seat at least two hours in advance and not abandon it.

When Biden entered, Burchett – who is a strident critic of Biden’s – cornered him for 40 seconds or so and discussed irrelevant topics such as Corvettes and chocolate chip ice cream, according to Knox News.

Their chatting briefly delayed the speech. Nothing related to issues in our East Tennessee district was mentioned. Burchett secured national attention for himself but nothing for East Tennessee.

This stands in stark contrast to fellow conservative Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California, who waited until the end of the Biden speech and hung around to speak to Biden for three minutes as he exited.

The Republican congressman used his time to talk about the U.S. Forest Service speeding up permits for harvesting timber, which is an issue in his district.

It clearly opened up communication, as a person on Biden’s legislative staff called LaMalfa’s office the next morning and he has since had high-level meetings with the Forest Service and Interior Department. LaMalfa believes in opening up lines of communication. “I try to get wins. You don’t do it by poking someone in the eye,” LaMalfa told the Washington Post.

By waiting until the end and waiting until the cameras were gone, LaMalfa got time with the president, which produced meetings and helped his district.

It is unfortunate and sad Burchett did not use his brief time with the leader of the free world to mention issues in our region such as TVA, Oak Ridge National Lab or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Birthdays

March 29: Martha H. Axford is 72. Patrick Birmingham is 66. Eric A. Botts is 44. Attorney Cynthia Gibson is 60. Former state Sen. Bud Gilbert is 67. Jackson Guthrie is 23. John B. McStay is 66. Judith Rosenberg is 53. Wendy J. Seaward is 62. Brian T. Strutz is 40. Matthew J. Tolson is 24.

March 30: School board member Kat Bike is 41. David Caldwell is 68. Deidra Harper is 39. Mayor Indya Kincannon is 53. Retired federal bankruptcy Judge Richard Stair is 83. Melissa Tschanz is 42.

March 31: Attorney Lance Baker is 37. Gordon Coker Jr. is 71. Former Vice President Al Gore Jr. is 76. Ed Hedgepeth is 76. Attorney Larry Leibowitz is 78. Dale Madden is 41. Jennifer Stansberry is 61.

April 1: Criminal Court Judge Scott Green is 62. Businessman Tim Hill is 62. Reginald Jackson is 39. Sam Parnell is 72. Bob Samples is 87. Chuck Severance Jr. is 63.

April 2: Retired Rocky Hill principal Joe Dent is 79. Attorney Robert Pryor Sr. is 81. Carol Shane is 68. Janis Terpenny is 67.

April 3: Franklin Ammons is 37. Wayne Decker is 79. Attorney Chris Hall is 67. Zimbabwe Matavou is 84. Joe Parrott is 80. Hanley Roach is 67.

Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News. 

Knox News and Shopper News promptly correct all errors. If you think we have published incorrect information, please email accuracy@knoxnews.com. Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number or the URL.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville police promotions show chief failing at diversity goals Ashe