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Council approves $115,500 HIDTA grant application to reimburse officer overtime
Summary
The council approved a resolution allowing the mayor to apply for and accept a $115,500 Appalachia HIDTA grant from the DOJ/DEA to reimburse law enforcement overtime spending for multi‑jurisdictional narcotics enforcement operations.
Knoxville City Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for and accept an Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) grant in the amount of $115,500 with no required matching funds from the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration. The measure passed with a voice vote; no tally was recorded in the transcript.
Councilmember Parker explained the grant pays overtime for KPD officers participating in multi‑jurisdictional narcotics operations and that voting to approve simply allows the city to apply and, if awarded, receive reimbursement for overtime already incurred. Chief Noel confirmed the city had applied for and received similar HIDTA grants in prior years.
A member of the public, Constance Every, spoke in opposition and argued the grant and related law‑enforcement spending criminalize people with addiction; supporters countered that HIDTA funds help fund investigations targeting trafficking and reduce harms associated with dangerous illicit substances.
Councilmembers who spoke in favor said the grant is routine and does not change current operations; it only permits the city to be reimbursed for overtime costs associated with multi‑jurisdictional investigations and enforcement.
