Council approves $300,000 DOJ grant application for KPD forensic unit amid public objections

Knoxville City Council authorized the mayor to apply for a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Knoxville Police Department's forensic unit to improve ballistic-analysis capacity. City staff told council the funds would support forensic examiners and equipment for processing ballistic evidence into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN); the packet noted the lab meets ATF standards and processes ballistic evidence rapidly.

One public speaker, Elizabeth Pomp, spoke against the grant and urged council to prioritize a community-based alternative crisis response and questioned oversight of violence-prevention spending: "No more money for KPD," she said. Council discussion acknowledged the community concerns but noted the grant requires no local match; Council member Grant stressed the need for measurable outcomes and financial oversight for violence-prevention work while supporting the grant's application.