Image Credit: Knoxville Community Media / YouTube
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
During their meeting on Monday, the Knox County Commission discussed an interim superintendent and oversight board for the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center, but it appears the Commission Chair, a Republican, seems willing to overlook the experience of more conservative commissioners in favor of “diversity”.
The center requires new oversight as the current 85-year-old superintendent Richard Bean, for whom the facility is named, announced his retirement amidst reports of abuse in the facility and the firing of two whistleblowers, one of whom was the center’s only nurse and without whom the center does not meet state law requirements.
At the end of May, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs called for the commission to take control of the facility and shift operations to the Sheriff’s department under an emergency order for 18 months until more concrete plans for the center’s future can be established.
The year-and-a-half plan dissolves the center’s current board of trustees and has the Knox County Sherriff’s Office (KCSO) assuming control of the facility starting January 1, 2026, with Mayor Jacobs hiring an interim superintendent through December 31 of this year, though the Tennessee Department of Children’ Services (DCS) will continue weekly check-ins until the transition.
There has been some critique about DCS’ neutrality in the matter as complaints about the center’s abusive medical practices supposedly went unnoticed under Bean as DCS reportedly delivered its regular reports to a board of trustees made up of Bean’s self-described “best friends”.
An oversight board comprised of four County Commissioners and one member to be named by the Juvenile Court has also been established, and during discussion on the commissioners to be named to the board, County Commission Chair Gina Oster seemingly broke standard commission rules for appointments by recommending four names of her choosing, two Democrats and two Republicans, despite the Republican-heavy makeup of the commission.
Oster claimed she wanted to have a “diverse group of people” to fairly represent the people of Knox County, but the makeup of the county hardly seems evenly split with the commission leaning 8-3 Republican.
“Does this board actually represent Knox County? And, when you think about it, is this board put into place to represent the people? I would say no, this board is put into place to oversee a facility that has had its reputation damaged by the current superintendent and harm caused to the children that are in that facility. So, would you not want the most qualified commissioners to oversee a facility that is in place as a ‘jail’ for children who have committed crimes?” Moms for Liberty Knoxville Chair Sherri Garrett commented.
Both Democrats voted against turning control over to KCSO and have backgrounds in finance or banking. One nominated Republican, Terry Hill, has a background in social work while the other, Larsen Jay, has a background in film, production, and finance.
Garrett believes Hill to be “an obvious good choice with her background in social work and on the school board,” but lamented the seemingly deliberate oversight of conservative commissioner Rhonda Lee, a criminal attorney. “She is the only commissioner familiar with the criminal justice system as a whole and in Knox County,” Garrett said.
Commissioner Larson Jay objected to Lee’s nomination to the board, claiming he thought it would be a conflict of interest for Lee were she to ever represent someone in the facility, but was refuted by Deputy Law Director Mike Moyers who informed Larson his concerns were not valid as that would not be considered a conflict. Chair Oster later admitted she had considered Lee but also believed her appointment could be a conflict of interest, signifying that she did not check with the law department prior to making her decision, a bypass of commission procedure.
Conservative Commissioner Andy Fox made a substitute motion proposing to change the makeup of the board to keep Democrat Damon Rawls and Republicans Larsen Jay and Terry Hill but instead appoint Rhonda Lee over Democrat Shane Jackson. The motion failed 5-4 with Chair Oster voting against and one commissioner abstaining.
Oster did not explain her “No” vote, and after the final vote the oversight board will be comprised of Oster’s original picks.
Mayor Jacobs commended the commission’s vote as “a meaningful step forward” and thanked the commission for “recognizing the importance of a thoughtful transition that prioritizes stability for both the youth and the staff.”
Once the temporary agreement expires in July of 2027, the County Commission will have the option to ask KCSO to continue operating the juvenile detention center or explore other options as the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s County Technical Advisory Service will study best practices to help inform a long-term future solution.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
