SJN priest cleared of ‘civil’ wrongs; still on leave for ‘Code’ check
KNOXVILLE — Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Diocese of Knoxville have announced that investigations of a priest at St. John Neumann Catholic Church and School, recently placed on administrative leave, have resulted in “no civil laws that have been violated.”
Father Joseph Reed, placed on leave after a complaint of "boundary violations" was passed along to the Diocese in December, has been cleared of “civil” violations after investigations by KCSO, Knox County Attorney General’s Office and statewide by Department of Children’s Services, said John Mecklenborg, DOK director of communications, Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 28.
Kimberly Glenn, KCSO Communications director, verified her employer had “closed” the matter because “the allegations are unsubstantiated” in an interview Monday afternoon, Jan. 27.
However, Mecklenborg also said Reed remains on leave pending a DOK “internal investigation ... that has already started,” adding, “the complaint will be evaluated in terms of the Diocese of Knoxville Code of Pastoral Conduct ... policies and procedures.”
