Lonsdale just moved to the center of Knoxville’s gun violence strategy.
The Knoxville Police Department has pulled the Lonsdale neighborhood into its place-based anti-violence program, Project TLC, officials said Tuesday. The move follows a rough stretch in the area: four deadly shootings and eight nonfatal shootings over the past five years, plus nearly 1,600 calls for service between March 1, 2024, and March 1, 2026. With the new designation, Lonsdale becomes the fourth TLC zone, joining East Knoxville, Montgomery Village, and Western Heights, in a plan that pairs visible patrols with neighborhood outreach and service referrals.
As reported by WVLT, Chief Paul Noel described Project TLC as “a long-term commitment to neighborhoods that historically have experienced higher rates of gun violence.” He said KPD will lean on walking patrols, community engagement, and connections to social service partners in Lonsdale. The outlet also quoted Mayor Indya Kincannon saying neighbors were “excited” about getting more resources and programming under the TLC model.
Data Behind the Decision
City crime data helped set the stage for expansion. Statistical reports from the City of Knoxville show recent declines in violent crime, with preliminary 2025 figures listing 17 murders, the fewest since 2016, and a 27 percent drop in nonfatal shootings compared to the previous year. City leaders say those trends give them confidence to extend a place-based strategy into other neighborhoods where gun violence remains concentrated.
How Project TLC Works
Project TLC blends data-driven, highly visible policing with a steady flow of city services. The toolkit includes directed foot patrols, regular zone meetings, blight removal, and community events that connect residents with housing help, job opportunities, and health resources. The approach has attracted attention outside Knoxville as well. KPD’s TLC program was recognized in 2025 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and local reporting notes that the city has contracted the University of Tennessee’s SWORPS to evaluate the program’s outcomes and lessons learned. According to the IACP, Project TLC is framed as a mix of enforcement, outreach, and problem-solving rooted in what residents say they need.
What Lonsdale Residents Should Expect
Officials say Lonsdale residents will see more officers on foot, monthly zone meetings, and neighborhood events geared toward connecting people directly with services and city departments. The city’s Project TLC page lays out the tactics and “community first” activities used in earlier zone launches, from coordination with code enforcement to resource fairs, and local outlets have framed the Lonsdale move as part of a broader push to replicate those gains across Knoxville. The zone model detail is outlined by the City of Knoxville, while WBIR covered the Lonsdale announcement.
City and police leaders say the rollout will be gradual and driven by what they hear from neighbors. KPD plans to watch call volumes and crime indicators inside the zone while holding resident meetings to fine-tune services and outreach. For now, Lonsdale joins a small but growing list of Knoxville neighborhoods where officials hope a mix of visibility, partnerships, and social supports can keep violent incidents on a downward trend.
