Chief Paul Noel announced on Wednesday that the Knoxville Police Department will implement a Use of Force Review Board as part of a continuing effort to enhance and improve agency operations.
Once implemented, the Use of Force Review Board will conduct in-depth after-action reviews of in-custody deaths, cases where deadly force is used and all other serious uses of force from the standpoint of training, tactics, policy and overall agency improvement.
“As a department, we should never turn down an opportunity to take a really close look at these more serious or consequential uses of force,” Chief Noel said. “Even in instances when we follow all of our training and policies by the book, there are likely more nuanced matters that we can address to avoid putting our officers or citizens in harm’s way or a situation where our officers have to resort to using deadly force.”
Currently, nearly all instances of use of force are reviewed by the involved officers’ chain of command and investigated by Internal Affairs in cases where it is determined that a possible policy violation occurred. The Use of Force Review Board will not replace that process, alter the Police Advisory and Review Committee’s role in that process or determine disciplinary action in cases when policy violations do happen. Instead, it will supplement those efforts by taking a deep dive into the circumstances that led to the use of force to determine if the department needs to adjust its policy, procedures or training.
In addition to reviewing all in-custody deaths and instances when deadly force is used, the Use of Force Review Board will also review all serious uses of force, which includes firearm discharges, those resulting in serious physical injury or hospitalization and K-9 bites. The Board will also review any use of force as requested by a member of the Command Staff, the Chief of Police or the Internal Affairs Unit.
“I am committed and our organization is committed to continual improvement, and this Board is part of that commitment,” Chief Noel said. “By taking a holistic look at these cases, we can reduce their frequency while also identifying and addressing gaps in training and policy. It’s a win-win for our organization and the community.”
