Safety Procedures at First Presbyterian

With a recent rise in incidents involving church members and staff with disruptive individuals on church grounds, our Hospitality and Safety Committee met on Tuesday night to discuss our current procedures and to look at updates and improvements to address the issue. During our meeting, it became apparent that there have been some interactions that have not been reported to the church office. If you have had an incident in the last 6 months, or have an interaction moving forward, please let the church staff know.

After speaking with several Downtown Clergy and new KPD Chief Paul Noel, we have filed a No Trespassing Order with the Knoxville Police Department and posted signs around the building. We learned in these conversations that doing so will allow officers to intervening more easily and help them get individuals connected to services that can help.

If you ever experience a situation where you feel unsafe, please contact the church staff, or if after hours, call the KPD Non-Emergency number at (865) 215-7450, or 9-1-1.

Thank you for your help as we continue to strive to serve God and be hospitable neighbors for Christ in the heart of Knoxville.

In Christ,

Mark Curtis