License-plate readers & surveillance cameras
What the county commission and the city council have decided about license-plate readers, surveillance and body cameras, and drones.
Where this stands
The record holds 21 decisions on this, from September 2019 to August 2026, at the City of Knoxville City Council and the Knox County Board of Commissioners. [1] [21]
The most recent was on August 31, 2026: Emergency Ordinance limiting surveillance technology deployment — adopted 11-0-0-0. [21]
One of them was decided by a split vote. [19]
The largest dollar amount stated in these decisions is $4,923,125, in Authorize agreement with Axon for KPD in-car and body camera system. [3]
Who voted how — City of Knoxville City Council
| Member | Apr 21, 2020 [2] | Jul 28, 2020 [3] | Aug 25, 2020 [4] | Aug 23, 2022 [8] | Jan 10, 2023 [9] | Jul 23, 2024 [14] | Oct 28, 2025 [15] | Aug 4, 2026 [19] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia Parker | Aye | Aye | Absent | Aye | Aye | Aye | Absent | No |
| Andrew Roberto | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | — |
| Charles Thomas | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Debbie Helsley | — | — | — | — | — | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Denzel Grant | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Aye |
| Doug Lloyd | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Aye |
| Gwen McKenzie | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Absent | — |
| Janet Testerman | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | — | — | — |
| Karyn Adams | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Aye |
| Lauren Rider | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | — |
| Lynne Fugate | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Matthew DeBardelaben | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Aye |
| Nathan Honeycutt | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Aye |
| Seema Singh | Aye | Aye | Aye | Absent | Aye | Aye | Aye | — |
| Tommy Smith | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | — |
Who voted how — Knox County Board of Commissioners
| Member | Jun 27, 2022 [7] | Apr 24, 2023 [10] | May 22, 2023 [11] | Feb 26, 2024 [12] | Jul 22, 2024 [13] | Mar 23, 2026 [16] | Jul 27, 2026 [17] | Aug 31, 2026 [20–21] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Thompson | — | — | — | — | — | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Andy Fox | — | — | — | — | — | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Angela Russell | — | — | — | — | — | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Carson Dailey | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | — | — | — |
| Charles Busler | Aye | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Courtney Durrett | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Damon Rawls | — | — | — | — | — | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Dasha Lundy | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | — | — | — |
| Gina Oster | — | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| John Schoonmaker | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | — | — | — |
| Justin Biggs | Aye | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kim Frazier | — | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Kyle Ward | Aye | Absent | Aye | Aye | Aye | — | — | — |
| Larsen Jay | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Randy Smith | Aye | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rhonda Lee | — | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Richie Beeler | Aye | Aye | Absent | Aye | Absent | — | — | — |
| Shane Jackson | — | — | — | — | — | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Terry Hill | Absent | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye |
Also decided outside the bodies we cover
- Knox County Sheriff’s Office — operates the county’s camera and license-plate-reader systems
- Knoxville Police Department — operates the city’s camera, body-camera and drone programs
Every step on the record (21 related decisions, oldest first)
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[1] · City of Knoxville City Council
September 10, 2019R-295-2019
Resolution requesting study of body worn cameras for police
Source: official minutes (PDF) for September 10, 2019.
-
[2] · City of Knoxville City Council
April 21, 2020R-113-2020
Apply for $300k DOJ grant for 400 body cams, with $300k match
Source: official minutes (PDF) for April 21, 2020.
-
[3] · City of Knoxville City Council
July 28, 2020R-221-2020
Authorize agreement with Axon for KPD in-car and body camera system
Source: official minutes (PDF) for July 28, 2020.
-
[4] · City of Knoxville City Council
August 25, 2020R-245-2020
Authorize Mayor to sign MOU with Knox County for 2019 Homeland Security Grant to purchase License Plate Reader System
Source: official minutes (PDF) for August 25, 2020.
-
[5] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
November 15, 2021R-21-11-302
Accept donation from Lowe's for Flock cameras
Source: official minutes (PDF) for November 15, 2021.
-
[6] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
May 23, 2022R-22-5-302
Authorize acceptance of donation of aviation equipment from Trakka Systems
Source: official minutes (PDF) for May 23, 2022.
-
[7] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
June 27, 2022R-22-6-210
Approve contract for body-worn cameras
Source: official minutes (PDF) for June 27, 2022.
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[8] · City of Knoxville City Council
August 23, 2022R-261-2022
Authorize Mayor to sign MOU with Knox County accepting 2021 Homeland Security Grant funds
Source: official minutes (PDF) for August 23, 2022.
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[9] · City of Knoxville City Council
January 10, 2023R-18-2023
Resolution authorizing amendment to contract with Axon Enterprise for body cameras
Source: official minutes (PDF) for January 10, 2023.
-
[10] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
April 24, 2023R-23-4-905
Encourage adoption of school safety recommendations
Source: official minutes (PDF) for April 24, 2023.
-
[11] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
May 22, 2023R-23-5-303
Approve donation of Flir Camera System from Teledyne Flir
Source: official minutes (PDF) for May 22, 2023.
-
[12] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
February 26, 2024R-24-2-301
Approve agreement with City of Knoxville for Sheriff's Office camera equipment
Source: official minutes (PDF) for February 26, 2024.
-
[13] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
July 22, 2024R-24-7-205
Approve contract for video surveillance systems
Source: official minutes (PDF) for July 22, 2024.
-
[14] · City of Knoxville City Council
July 23, 2024R-200-2024
Authorize MOU with Knox County for KPD Mobile Camera Trailer grant
Source: official minutes (PDF) for July 23, 2024.
-
[15] · City of Knoxville City Council
October 28, 2025R-297-2025
Apply for grant to purchase body-worn cameras
Source: official minutes (PDF) for October 28, 2025.
-
[16] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
March 23, 2026R-26-3-303
Accept TJX Law Enforcement Grant for surveillance equipment
Source: official minutes (PDF) for March 23, 2026.
-
[17] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
July 27, 2026R-26-7-905
Request review of Sheriff's Office ARC, ALPR/LPR technology, and policies
Source: official minutes (PDF) for July 27, 2026.
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[18] · City of Knoxville City Council
August 4, 2026R-218-2026
Apply for Downtown Knoxville Alliance funding for cameras
Motion: Motion to Amend the resolution to strike out $39,069.84 and insert $31,069.84
Source: official minutes (PDF) for August 4, 2026.
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[19] · City of Knoxville City Council
August 4, 2026R-218-2026
Apply for Downtown Knoxville Alliance funding for cameras
Motion: Motion to approve the resolution
Source: official minutes (PDF) for August 4, 2026.
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[20] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
August 31, 2026O-26-8-102
Emergency Ordinance limiting surveillance technology deployment
Motion: Motion to add amendments to the Emergency Ordinance
Source: official minutes (PDF) for August 31, 2026.
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[21] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
August 31, 2026O-26-8-102
Emergency Ordinance limiting surveillance technology deployment
Motion: Motion to approve Emergency Ordinance O-26-8-102 with amendment
Source: official minutes (PDF) for August 31, 2026.
A curated grouping of the record, possibly incomplete.