KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Police Department could soon expand its resources to examine guns used in crimes and identify possible shooters after it said it got a $700,000 federal grant Wednesday.
The grant was awarded through the Bureau of Justice Assistance's 2024 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Integration Initiative and was designated for a new crime gun intelligence center. KPD said the center would be in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
These kinds of centers collect, manage and analyze different kinds of evidence after a gun is used in a crime. They can collect shell casings or firearms left behind and use the evidence to identify suspects.
KPD said the grant would be used to expand the police department's firearms and ballistics examination capabilities, currently conducted by its Forensics Unit. That unit includes three people solely dedicated to examining guns and bullet casings to find leads in cases, according to a release.
The police department also said it already acts as the lead agency for examinations of guns and ballistics in the region. It was one of three cities to get the maximum grant award to implement a crime gun intelligence center. The grant program spans three years and will fund salaries, upgraded equipment and training other other centers.
