Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel has been suspended for one month and is under investigation following the discovery of flirtatious text messages exchanged with an officer involved in a love triangle. The internal investigation, initially focused on the officer's affair, revealed the communications between Chief Noel and Officer Jasmine Reed.
According to reports, the text exchanges between Noel and Reed occurred over several years. While the investigation did not establish a physical relationship between them, the messages reportedly included invitations for Reed to travel with the chief and references to him wearing a wedding ring while engaging in extramarital relationships. Noel was placed on suspension last week as the investigation continues.
Officer's Affair and Misconduct
The investigation into Officer Jasmine Reed uncovered an affair with married Lieutenant Keith DeBow, which included instances of sexual activity on duty. Reed admitted to investigators that she and DeBow engaged in sexual acts multiple times in a relief trailer and met in a storage room for intimate encounters. Surveillance footage reportedly documented 37 such meetings, totaling over 8 hours.
Lieutenant DeBow retired before the internal complaint was filed and was not formally investigated. The department found no criminal wrongdoing by the three involved, but workplace policy violations were substantiated.
Captain's Role and Performance Issues
Captain Tammy DeBow, wife of Lieutenant Keith DeBow, was also suspended for her actions. After discovering her husband's affair with Reed, she sent inappropriate text messages to Reed. While her actions were deemed understandable given the circumstances, they were considered a violation of conduct due to her rank.
In addition to the affair, Officer Reed faced separate scrutiny for her job performance. She was reportedly investigated for mishandling evidence on up to 20 occasions. The report suggests that her involvement in the affair and the alleged evidence mishandling may have impacted her professional duties.