City Resolves to Evaluate Reassignment of 15 Officers over Alleged Untruthfulness

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Mayor Tim Kelly’s Office has reached a resolution with the Chattanooga Police Department to review the assignments of all policed officers alleged to have been less than truthful on the job.

An internal committee of sworn officers will be brought together to evaluate violations allegedly committed by fifteen members of law enforcement.

“This was a collaborative approach with Chief Murphy, Mayor Kelly, and the employee groups that were all involved to really describe and define a review process to really make sure that officers had an opportunity to be heard,” said Joda Thongnopnua, Mayor Kelly’s Chief of Staff.

Once the review process is complete, some officers may be reassigned entirely.

Others may keep their assignments but face new requirements such as having to leave their body camera on at all times.

“The chief will have latitude in this process to define what those special accommodations may need to be or to assign them to a role that’s better suited to them,” said Thongnopnua.

This review process applies only to Officers who were found to be untruthful before August 16, 2022.

Any untruthfulness violation sustained beyond that date will be met with immediate termination.

“One, this is about Chief Murphy setting a very high standard for integrity at her Department, something the Mayor applauds her for and stands beside her for. The second thing is making sure employees are heard throughout that process. And then of course transparency is a part of it. I think that the employee groups and the Chief have set a high standard for both integrity and communication with the public,” said Thongnopnua.