State Rep. Gloria Johnson, House Dist. 13: Legislative Update
(NASHVILLE, TN – March 14, 2019) The Knoxville Police Advisory and Review Committee, a community oversight board, has operated with subpoena power in our city for two decades with no interference from the state legislature.
One of my constituents, the former Mayor of Knoxville Victor Ashe, launched the Police Advisory and Review Committee at a time when the idea was controversial. But Mayor Ashe believed in its potential for building partnership and trust between the police department and members of the community. Two years later, the city council voted unanimously to make the Police Advisory and Review Committee permanent.
Twenty years later, having operated successfully under both Democratic and Republican mayors, no Knoxville leaders have ever tried to turn back.
The Police Advisory and Review Committee came under fire this year after the Republican majority saw that in November Nashville voters approved a ballot initiative to create a community oversight board of their own.
Almost immediately, a Republican-sponsored bill was filed to strip power from local community oversight boards and overturn decisions made by local leaders and voters.
Despite protests from legislators who represent cities with well-regarded community oversight boards, including some Knoxville Republicans, today House Bill 658 passed the House of Representatives in a vote 66-26.
While I am disappointed in the result of the vote, I’m not giving up yet. Senate Bill 1407, the companion legislation, is awaiting a vote in the Tennessee Senate. Please join me in contacting Sens. Richard Briggs, Becky Duncan Massey, and Lt. Gov. Randy McNalley to encourage them to leave the P.A.R.C. intact as is.