News Summary
Three sergeants from the Knoxville Police Department have filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming underpayment due to misclassification under a new pay scale. The sergeants allege their compensation does not accurately reflect their years of service. The lawsuit seeks compensation for lost wages and an adjustment to their pay scale status. This legal action follows similar cases involving other city employees, raising concerns over the transparency of compensation practices within the city.
Knoxville, Tennessee – Three sergeants from the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) have initiated a lawsuit against the city, alleging they have been significantly underpaid since the implementation of a new emergency responder payment plan. The sergeants involved in the legal action are Barry Scott Coffey, Matthew W. Gentry, and James N. Lockmiller. They claim that misclassification under the new pay system has resulted in their compensation not accurately reflecting their years of service.
The lawsuit stems from a revamped pay scale that was approved by the city council and enacted within the 2022 and 2023 budgets. This step-based pay plan categorized employees into specific groups, which determine annual salaries based on their assigned “step” within the scale. The sergeants contend that their current “step” ratings do not correspond appropriately with how long they have been serving in their positions.
Coffey, who has worked as a sergeant for 12 years, alleges he was placed at Step Two in 2022, while Gentry, who has served for two years, was classified at Step One. Similarly, Lockmiller, with 11 years of experience, was also placed at Step One. According to the lawsuit, the city, under the administration of Mayor Indya Kincannon, failed to correctly implement the Pay Step Plan, resulting in the sergeants being assigned to “arbitrary lower steps” without prior notice.
The lawsuit further details that past transitions to step pay plans have often resulted in employees being classified based on their existing salaries rather than their tenure in respective roles. The city has yet to provide any explanations regarding the criteria used during the transition process for employee classifications, which has added to the confusion among the affected officers.
In an effort to address their concerns, Coffey, Gentry, and Lockmiller previously submitted grievances requesting both a proper reclassification and clarity on how their classifications were determined. However, these requests were reportedly denied by the city, which asserted that disputes related to compensation do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Civil Services Merit Board.
The lawsuit seeks not only compensation for the wages lost since the implementation of the new pay plan in 2022 but also an adjustment to their pay scale status to align with their service tenure.
This legal action mirrors a previous case involving veteran firefighters in Knoxville, who likewise filed a lawsuit claiming underpayment stemming from similar classification issues. As the sergeants pursue their case, they hope to shed light on the alleged misapplication of the pay plan and secure fair compensation.
Attempts to gain comments from the Knoxville Police Department regarding the matter were unsuccessful, as KPD declined to provide any statements. Furthermore, the City of Knoxville has not issued any response to the allegations thus far.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have implications not just for the involved individuals but potentially for other city employees who may find themselves in similar pay classification situations. It raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the city’s compensation practices, particularly for employees in public safety roles.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Man Indicted for Murder Following Overdose Death in Knoxville
Knoxville Community Responds to Stabbing Incident
New Deputy Chief Appointed for Knoxville Police Department
Knoxville City Council Approves $1.75 Million for Opioid Crisis
Additional Resources
- WBIR: Iowa Supreme Court rulings
- Knox News: Anthony Thompson Jr. lawsuit
- WATE: Knoxville man suing city
- Knox News: Iowa court dismisses case
- Google Search: Knoxville Police
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
