When Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel wondered about the reaction from the rank and file after he reassigned a patrolman in 2025 who repeatedly punched a woman during a traffic stop, he texted officer Jasmine Reed for intel.
The two exchanged messages about it and Reed candidly told him officers were worried department leaders might not have their backs if they used force while on duty.
The private exchange between KPD's top leader and a young patrol officer ultimately may provide a bigger hurdle for Noel to clear as he tries to rebuild his reputation following his one-month suspension Aug. 6 for exchanging sexually charged text messages with Reed in an ongoing chat that extended from April 2024 to February.
When Mayor Indya Kincannon announced
Noel's suspension at a press conference that included him, she said the investigation found Noel violated KPD policies covering the code of ethics, general responsibilities, unbecoming conduct, sexual misconduct and general misconduct.
"The actions of Chief Noel do not meet the professional standards of any city employee," Kincannon said.
Former two-term Councilmember Gwen McKenzie spoke Aug. 11 to Knox News about the ramifications of the sexually charged text exchanges between Noel and Reed.
"He's put us in a bad position," McKenzie told Knox News on Aug. 11. "I'm very disappointed in the poor judgment. It's going to be an insurmountable challenge to come back from."
The review also found he likely violated a sixth policy governing "respect between the ranks."
That private exchange about a personnel matter shows the far-reaching effects of Noel’s texting scandal. The reputational damage is not limited to the sexually charged text exchanges, and the fallout will not vanish any time soon.
"Chief Noel is serving a one-month suspension without pay because his actions violated several professional Codes of Conduct," city spokesperson Eric Vreeland said Aug. 11 in an email in response to questions about Noel texting Reed about another officer's discipline. "The investigation, the findings, and the suspension all speak for themselves − the texts were inappropriate."
Why did Noel text patrol officer Jasmine Reed about another KPD officer?
Noel had suspended officer Matthew Johnson’s police powers and reassigned him in August 2025 after he was captured on video knocking a woman to the ground with a punch, straddling her and swinging at her again during a traffic stop that resulted in two arrests.
Less than a week later, while the internal investigation was ongoing, Noel asked Reed about how officers felt about the discipline the chief had meted out.
It wasn't the only time Noel and Reed discussed departmental matters.
Over the course of the two years the two carried on their private text conversation, he disclosed to her before it was public that he was introducing a horse-mounted patrol unit and talked to her about KPD's plans to purchase drones for its real time information center.
"We are going to buy these things next year," Noel messaged Reed. "You all will have real time air support. It's going to make a real difference."
Two people who were stopped filed excessive force lawsuits
Nearly a year after the traffic stop that led Noel to reassign Johnson, the two people who accused the patrolman of using excessive force have filed lawsuits in federal court. Zyquise Matthews and his mother, Sumer Fletcher, filed separately against Johnson and the city.
Both were charged with assault on a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct. Matthews also was charged with resisting arrest, simple possession, failing to stop before turning onto the roadway and driving without insurance.
KPD spokesperson Scott Erland said Johnson's use of force was found to be reasonable and within policy "given the totality of the circumstances" and his police powers were restored July 13. However, Johnson violated the department's code of conduct mandating courtesy in the job, though any disciplinary action related to that violation has not been finalized.
"Officer Johnson remains employed with KPD and has since returned to patrol with his full police powers," Erland said in an email Aug. 11.
Both Erland and Vreeland declined to comment on the lawsuits, citing city policy not to comment on pending litigation.
Troy Jones, the attorney for Matthews and Fletcher, could not be reached for comment.
What happened during the stop?
Police said Matthews was stopped on Woodbine Avenue near Cherry Street on Aug. 21 for failing to come to a complete stop when leaving a gas station and for a possible window tint violation. He did not immediately step out of the car when asked by officers, who forcibly removed and handcuffed him.
A person nearby recorded the altercation and shared it on Facebook. It has been viewed more than 100,000 times. The video begins as police are trying to handcuff Matthews and continues to show Fletcher as she attempts to approach her son and officers.
Johnson first tries to redirect Fletcher across the street. After she swatted open-handed at Johnson, he threw a hard punch with his right hand, knocking her to the ground. He straddled her and punched her in the face twice before he handcuffed her.
Matthews pleaded guilty in November to two misdemeanors: assault causing bodily injury and resisting arrest. His lawsuit does not challenge the validity of his conviction. Fletcher’s case is ongoing.
New lawsuits against the police department
Both lawsuits were filed by attorney Troy Jones against the city and Johnson. Matthews also sued officer Ryan Bishop, who initiated the traffic stop.
Matthews’ lawsuit
Matthews’ lawsuit says he was recovering from a recent shoulder injury that was in a sling when he was pulled over. The officers, he said, disregarded this and handled him – even after he was in handcuffs – with force that was “objectively unreasonable, excessive and unnecessary under the totality of the circumstances.”
The indifference to his injury continued, Matthews said, when he wasn’t taken to the hospital to be evaluated after the arrest.
Matthews sued the officers for deliberate indifference to his injury and denial of medical care, excessive force, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress. He sued the city for negligent training and for general municipal liability.
Fletcher’s lawsuit
Fletcher’s lawsuit is very similar to her son’s, but focuses on her interactions with Johnson.
She said she was trying to speak with Matthews and gesturing towards her son, not swatting at Johnson, when the officer punched her. She said Johnson had no reason to fear for his safety, certainly not while she was on the ground, unconscious.
“While Ms. Fletcher lay incapacitated and defenseless on the ground, Officer Johnson moved on top of her, straddling her body and turning her onto her back,” she said. “Officer Johnson then struck the defenseless Ms. Fletcher in the face at least two additional times with a closed fist.”
The lawsuit asserts Johnson did not initially say Fletcher hit him but later changed his story. In his arrest report Johnson wrote Fletcher “threw a punch with her right hand toward my head.”
Fletcher sued Johnson for excessive force, false arrest, malicious prosecution and fabrication of evidence, assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She also sued the city for negligent training and general municipal liability.
Noel’s messages to Reed about the case
(The text exchanges below are verbatim, including missing capitalization, punctuation and misspelled words.)
Noel: “How bad is everyone fired up about the Johnson use of force from last week?”
Reed (after responding to a separate comment): “… There is a lot of confusion about that issue with the use of force looking justified everyone was pissed at first but now the rumor is that it was a failure to document. A lot of people are just concerned the department won't have our back in a justified use of force”
Noel: “I understand the confusion. There is a little more to it than that one punch. But it definitely doesn't mean he is guilty until proven innocent. Just some stuff we need to work through”
Noel: “We have had other uses of force and officer involved shooting and we have had their back. That wont change with one incident”
Noel: “But thanks for giving it to me straight. I need to hear that. Too many people tell me what that think I need to hear. I always appreciate the truth even if it's unpleasant”
Reed: “Well I'm just glad you don't get mad when I do tell the truth because some people do.”
(The two discuss other issues before returning to the topic of Johnson's discipline.)
Noel: “That's good. Ans I really do appreciate honesty. My job is hard enough. It's harder when people tell me what they think I need to hear and not whats really going on”
Knox News politics reporter Allie Feinberg contributed to this report. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie
Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Email: tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com; X: @tyler_whetstone; Signal: twhetstone141924.39
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Forget racy texts, chats about coworkers raise another issue for Noel | Exclusive
