Mayor, KPD Chief Opt Out of State COVID-19 Database for Good Reasons

KNOXVILLE, TN (May 12, 2020) – Mayor Indya Kincannon and Police Chief Eve Thomas announced that the Knoxville Police Department will opt out of a state program that allows law-enforcement officers across Tennessee to access a database of persons who have tested positive for COVID-19.

“The initiative was well-intended, aimed at protecting first responders and the people they serve, and safeguards were put in place to protect confidential information,” Kincannon said. “But there are better ways to accomplish the same goals, and we will continue to take the appropriate steps to assure public safety.”

One of the Mayor’s solutions is to purchase and distribute more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to firefighters, paramedics and police officers in order to safeguard first responders, as well as the whole of Knoxvillians from dangers known and unknown.

In addition, Mayor Kincannon wants to see more people tested, as few have been tested. Access to a database does not include those who are asymptomatic carriers. Allowing law enforcement access to a state database does not enhance public safety and gives law enforcement a false sense of security.

“More importantly, we don’t want to create any public reluctance to be tested out of fear that confidential information might inadvertently be shared,” Kincannon said.

Mayor Kincannon pledged “to continue to protect our first responders so that they can continue to protect our city.”

Steps taken by the Mayor include:

• Purchasing more N95 masks and other PPE;
• Making sure that all first responders wear face coverings when interacting with the public in close proximity, unless doing so prevents them from doing their job effectively, such as when chasing a suspect on foot; and
• Supporting collaborative community efforts to increase testing capacity, so that ALL first responders can be tested every two weeks until a COVID-19 vaccine is available.