Councilwoman Amelia Parker

09/04/2026

Paul Noel is scheduled to return as KPD Chief this Sunday after being suspended for sexually harassing a subordinate.

Shame on Mayor Kincannon for failing to uphold the standards that Paul Noel was hired to set for the Knoxville Police Department.

Months after I was elected to city council, a female officer reported to me that she had been sexually assaulted by another officer. I took the complaint to the mayor. She refused to meet with the officer and instead assigned a member of her staff to meet with her. The officer only wanted to meet with the mayor. The police chief had already dismissed her complaint and she did not feel supported. She decided not to move forward with the complaint once the mayor refused her meeting. I received additional complaints of sexual harassment within KPD. I took those complaints directly to the former HR director who initiated an investigation that led to multiple resignations.

https://www.wbir.com/article/news/investigations/10investigates-knoxville-police-looked-into-2020-report-of-sexual-assault-by-officer-councilwomans-claims-validated/51-b124b6e8-90e2-4ca2-9686-a661a5b2748b

In the three years leading up to Noel’s hire, eight KPD officers, including two deputy chiefs, resigned or retired while under investigation, several of which involved investigations into sexual misconduct and coverup. Former KPD Chief Eve Thomas retired and Noel was hired to address the discriminatory practices and toxic culture of the department.

Noel failed us. And now Kincannon has failed us as well.

Paul Noel should resign.

09/03/2026

This week’s city council meeting was a tough one. The family of Patrick Allen spoke during public forum about having to witness their loved one transition from this Earth while watching KPD body cam footage. They spoke of Patrick’s sweet and gentle spirit and how he would never hurt anyone, especially a police officer. They demanded answers and justice for his preventable death. Why was Patrick not simply asked to leave? Why did officers feel the need to escalate the situation? His death while in custody is still under investigation, the results of which are expected to be released in the next few weeks.

Even without the results of the investigation or the cause of death, we can still question the treatment we witnessed Patrick receive on his final day on Earth. I do not believe any of us would want our loved ones treated that way, especially by those sworn to protect us.

We can do better and we must do better - for our community members and also for the officers who continue to be asked to perform tasks that they are not properly trained to handle. However, to be clear, I also feel that no one should be treated as Patrick was treated, unless they pose an immediate danger to others. And nothing in the body cam footage indicated that Patrick was such a threat. KPD officers must be able to meet a higher standard of care and service for all of our residents.

I continue to mourn with the family and the broader Knoxville community and I remain committed to helping bring forward an alternative response option for 911 calls, including new training and protocols for dispatchers, when police are not needed or would be a detriment, such as in calls involving those experiencing a mental health crisis.

Mom of man who died in Knoxville police custody wants him remembered as 'a child of God' See link below ⬇️

📸 Saul Young/News Sentinel

08/20/2026

My heart is broken. Many of us in this city have worked nonstop to get established the services needed to get our residents the care they need and prevent another tragic death at the hands of KPD. Yet what we are up against is a mayor (and a city council) who has protected her officers, lied for her officers, and contributed to an ever worsening culture at KPD that makes our police believe they can do whatever they want, especially when dealing with Black and brown residents, the unhoused, or those with mental health challenges.

I’ve lost count of how many police involved deaths we have seen in the past 5 years. When I was active in Black Lives Matter Knoxville 10 years ago, officer involved deaths were actually pretty rare in Knoxville. The death of Andre Stenson and others which led to the formation of Knoxville’s police advisory group weighed heavily not only on the community but seemingly on Knoxville’s leadership as well.

Accountability for where we are now starts at the top. I am grateful that we invested in body cams so that we have evidence of what happened. In some of Patrick Allen’s final moments before dying at the hands of KPD on August 5th, we hear familiar words once again - Breath for me, Patrick. 💔

We will not begin to see a cultural shift at KPD, we will not begin to see better treatment of the most vulnerable in our city, until we have leadership in place that not only requires it but they model it and help to usher it forward.

KPD officers, I’m sorry this is your training and I’m sorry someone gave you this assignment. And if this is not in line with your training, someone please speak up. Police seem to be the only profession authorized to take a life simply because the person didn’t comply exactly how the officer wanted even when that person is unarmed and no threat to anyone. We can and we must do better as a city. Patrick Allen deserved better. His death should have never happened.

Six years ago, as I was just coming on to city council, I was interviewed about the similarities in the 2020 death of George Floyd and the 1998 death of Andre Stenson, for which we did not have video evidence. My quote from 6 years ago still remains true. We could have done so much over the past 6 years to improve policing for the most vulnerable. Instead, we have had a mayor with an unhealthy level of loyalty to the police who has given them just about everything they’ve asked for with little accountability while pointing as justification to the historically low crime rates that just about every city in the country is currently experiencing. Despite the good PR that KPD has enjoyed over the last 2 years, I feel my words below still ring true and now we add Patrick Allen to Knoxville’s shameful history of in-custody deaths alongside Ethel Beck (never forget!) and too many others to name.

“The case of Andre Stenson is a horrific piece of our city’s history that has lingering impacts. It reminds us that there have been so many unjustifiable deaths that received no justice because it was not caught on video. White folks gotta see it to believe it. Otherwise, the suffering of black and brown folk, the homeless, the poor and working class, goes unnoticed and unchanged. This suffering caused by our institutions continues on a daily basis. I feel powerless to stop it. I’ve appealed to the mayor and she has doubled down in her support of the police.”

And the mayor continues to stand by her police force rather than hold them accountable, as evidenced by her failure to fire Chief Noel immediately after receiving the results of the investigation into those text messages. It starts at the top.

Knoxville’s I Can’t Breath Case: https://www.knoxtntoday.com/knoxvilles-i-cant-breathe-case-22-years-ago/

50 years after Ethel Beck's death, policing issues remain: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/opinion/2020/08/09/50-years-after-ethel-beck-death-policing-issues-remain/3301103001/

Aug 5, 2026 footage of Patrick Allen’s death while in KPD’s custody: https://youtu.be/T0CqXRfJpz4?is=P6mYn2eImyWvCYIy

08/17/2026

The vote is tomorrow!

Currently, if there is a tie in a city council primary election, sitting councilmembers must vote to break it. They legally have the option to call a runoff tie-breaker vote before the general election, but "the election calendar does not allow enough time for a runoff before the regular election," according to council agenda material.

Councilmember Amelia Parker wants to change the rules so if there is a tie in the primary, the two tied candidates will go to the general election and the city council will not have to choose one.

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/17/whos-running-for-knoxville-mayor-in-2027/91253900007/

08/16/2026

Reminder - Two charter amendments are on second reading at this Tuesday’s city council meeting. If passed, the amendments will appear on the November ballots of city voters.

One amendment would allow any candidate for city council to be elected in the August primary with a majority (50+1) of the votes.

The amendment I introduced would adopt language to prevent a tie in the city primary elections when there is not time for a runoff.

The language for the tiebreaker amendment was developed by MTAS and approved by the state election commission in 2022.

In 2024, city council approved the tiebreaker language as part of Roberto’s regional at-large proposed charter amendment. The at-large voting system was voted down by voters but I believe voters would support adding the tiebreaker language to the charter were it presented to them separate from other proposals.

Weigh in, Knoxville. If you would like to see my proposed charter amendment on your November ballots, please contact your city council reps to show support by emailing [email protected].

08/04/2026

Since submitting my proposed charter amendment to the council agenda, the feedback that I have received is that the voters, on both sides of the aisle, do not support more city elections potentially concluding in the city primary in August. In fact, those I spoke with were also opposed to our current system in which the mayor and municipal judge are able to be elected in the primary. Therefore I’m bringing an amendment to my amendment.

See my latest post on the Knoxville City Council forum. Although Vice Mayor Fugate has the votes to send her charter amendment to the voters, Fugate’s proposal to allow ALL city council candidates who get a majority of the vote to be elected in the primary will fail. Her proposal could result in only a handful of people deciding who represents your district on city council.

Let’s not waste an additional two years and thousands of dollars to put forward a charter amendment destined to fail. Let’s work together to find a proposal that council members can support and that will ultimately receive the support of the voters as well. Please feel free to share your thoughts below.

cc.forum.knoxvilletn.gov/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=40&p=65

05/06/2026

Tomorrow, Thursday May 7th, City Council will host Legislative & Public Hearings on the mayor’s proposed budget, with the public hearing beginning promptly at 5pm. This is the only opportunity on the budget calendar for the public to weigh-in on the mayor’s proposed budget before it heads to a final vote on May 26th.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on the mayor’s proposed spending priorities, you must sign up to speak by 4pm Thursday, the day of the hearing. See instructions on the attached agenda.

If you are not able to attend, the hearings will be broadcast live on Knoxville Community Media beginning at 8am. Watch online at https://www.knoxcm.org or the KCM YouTube channel or on the following cable channels:

* Xfinity (Comcast) – Channel 12
* Charter (Spectrum) – Channel 193
* WOW! (Knology) – Channel 6
* KUB TV - Channel 1019
* AT&T U-verse – Channel 99
* Roku and Amazon Fire

Thursday is a time for council members and the public to ask questions. Following the hearing, I will host a public discussion of the budget. Time and location TBD.

04/21/2026

Thanks to Knoxville Community Media and Director Oaks for your tireless leadership and advocacy in support of community television!

On Monday afternoon, the American Broadband Deployment Act (HR-2289) was pulled from floor consideration due to a lack of Republican support, news outlets are reporting. The House Rules Committee's website said it "postponed" plans to consider HR-2289, which would have set up floor debate on the measure and determined whether the panel would allow votes on anticipated amendments.

Knoxville Community Media has been leading efforts in our area to draw attention to the negative impacts the bill would have on community television not just in Knoxville, but around the country.

Below are the primary reasons being offered for opposing to the bill:

* Preemption of Local Authority: The bill limits local control over right-of-way management, zoning, and construction timelines, leading to fears that communities cannot ensure safe infrastructure deployment.

* "Shot Clocks" and Deemed Approved: It sets 60–150 day deadlines for permitting, after which projects are automatically approved, restricting local review capabilities.

* Fee Caps: The legislation caps fees that local governments can charge for using public rights-of-way.

How the bill would impact Knoxville/Knox County and other local jurisdictions

* Elimination of Funding: The act would allow cable companies to stop paying franchise fees, which are a key source of funding for Knoxville Community Media (KCM). These companies often argue that providing the channels themselves should count as in-kind donations, eliminating the need for monetary fees.

* Removal of Local Authority: The legislation, which KCM refers to as a "power grab from big business," would strip local governments of their power to negotiate with cable companies, allowing them to install infrastructure on public land without local permission.

* Threat to Local Transparency: KCM acts as a local version of C-SPAN, providing "gavel-to-gavel" coverage of local government meetings, including City Council, County Commission, and Board of Education meetings. Losing this coverage would severely impact local transparency and the public voice.

* No Guarantee of Coverage: Despite the aim of increasing broadband, KCM contends the bill does not ensure underserved communities will get access, instead serving corporate interests.

Learn more about the legislation here: https://insideofknoxville.com/2025/05/funding-cuts-and-legislation-threaten-to-silence-knoxville-community-media/ #:~:text=A%20secondary%20effect%20of%20the,television%20as%20we%20know%20it.”

In 2023, the Knoxville City Council adopted a Resolution in support of the Protecting Community Television Act, which redefines "franchise fees" to strictly mean monetary payments, ensuring that local community media,, including public, educational, and government (PEG) channels, remain funded and accessible. Read the Resolution here: A Resolution expressing support of the Protecting Community Television Act (S. 340/H.R. 907) of the 118th U.S. Congress to clarify that franchise fees are only monetary

04/21/2026

Tonight! Register at the link below to participate remotely.

588d4f39-4bca-431c-a6b6-d6ce51b8dce5@2031e6f3-9d08-4573-985f-96986308dce3?fbclid=IwVERDUARUKqJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe0DhOeIER4o3ggCHq8-IgWtPctKYmZXxJDDbgNXyPG8C-y_lzvG3gT90mKJA_aem_ZXG6G8wz-rhBwZCvTq5-fg" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/588d4f39-4bca-431c-a6b6-d6ce51b8dce5@2031e6f3-9d08-4573-985f-96986308dce3?fbclid=IwVERDUARUKqJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe0DhOeIER4o3ggCHq8-IgWtPctKYmZXxJDDbgNXyPG8C-y_lzvG3gT90mKJA_aem_ZXG6G8wz-rhBwZCvTq5-fg

04/20/2026

Knoxville and Knox County, please call Representative Tim Burchett early today and ask him to vote "NO" on the American Broadband Deployment Act! Residents of other counties and states do the same! This affects you as well!