Chattanooga Police Need Witnesses to Speak Out

That’s the second murder this week.

Six shootings total and the police press releases keep piling up.

With many witnesses to these murders – yet no one talking – frustration in the police department is mounting.

"I have two people that will not get to spend Christmas with their families this year," said Deputy Chief David Roddy with the Chattanooga police Department. "We don’t believe that it’s right for those criminals to be able spend Christmas at home. They should not have that option. So we are asking for the communities help."

Law enforcement is meeting with 40 pastors from inner city churches in a closed door meeting to find out ways the community can trust officials to share vital suspect information.

"We know members of our community either have information that will help us or actually witnessed the crimes themselves," Roddy said. "We need those individuals to stand up and speak out."

Police have a phone number witnesses can call anonymously with suspect information but officers say even that, many in the community don’t trust.

"I think the police have to be more engaged with those people, not just when bad things happen but actually get out and talk to people on good days," said Joan Nabors who married to the pastor at the inner city church New City Fellowship in Chattanooga. "I think they just don’t trust authorities to do what’s right for them in their community."

"We want the community to understand as a whole that we are part of them. They are part of us," Roddy said.

All hands are on deck at the police department as the investigations into this weeks’ shootings continue.

"The number of people that respond into these incidents at times can almost go into the hundreds and I wanted to impress upon our community how much work the department is doing right now to try and locate the acts that we have suffered the last few days."