Former Police Chief to Return I-Pad
But, for a few hours Friday, he was cast in the role of a thief.
In what’s turning out to be a major misunderstanding, the former chief and three of his retiring colleagues will have to give back their city-issued I-pads.
BOBBY DODD "So here we are, 10 months later, I get blasted by the newspaper and apparently by the chief…"
Bobby Dodd was responding to a published report about him keeping the I-pad last January.
Dodd and his wife were on vacation when they heard about the published report.
BOBBY DODD, FORMER CHATTANOOGA POLICE CHIEF "I think the quote was that myself and the other chiefs had "helped ourselves" to city equipment before we left…I can’t explain to you just how upset that made me."
The confusion began when the city auditor made a note of the missing I-pads in his report.
STAN SEWELL "This issue about these four I-pads is one small finding that we’re required by standards to put in there."
Stan Sewell says regardless of good intentions, the manner in which the officers were given the I-pads—was illegal.
STAN SEWELL, CITY AUDITOR "Regardless of whether there’s an email from someone in the mayor’s office saying its ok to take them, it doesn’t matter. The city code requires that only the council can give that approval…there was a violation and we reported it."
Former Chief Dodd, cited by many as one of the best chiefs ever in Chattanooga…produced an email exchange with Mayor Berke’s chief of staff, Jeff Cannon. He had an email to and from Cannon on January 7th.
BOBBY DODD "..if there is a problem with the original decision to allow us to keep them, or we need to return them ..please let me know."
City communications director has Brent Messer sent the former officers a letter ordering them to return the I-pads to the city.
Although he had not seen that letter when we spoke with him, Dodd says he will comply with the request.
Chief Fred Fletcher told us late today there was no threat against Dodd or the other officers from the department.
Fletcher said he wanted to make the point that any such claims would be thoroughly investigated if necessary.
Leave a Reply