Police Chief Fred Fletcher pays tribute to former officer Todd Royval
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Investigators believe a former Chattanooga Police Lieutenant took his own life last night at a home in East Ridge.
Police found the body next to his pickup that had hit another vehicle.
Royval left the department last year in a dispute over the future of the gang task force and the VRI.
He later testified against the department in a lawsuit filed by officers over pay.
Chief Fletcher released this statement on Lt. Royval’s career:
“Last night the world lost a very special person, a brother and friend. Monday night retired Chattanooga Police Department Lieutenant Todd Royval passed away.
Lt. Royval was loved by family and friends, respected by coworkers, and feared by bad guys.
Lt. Royval was a 20-year veteran of the Chattanooga Police Department, retiring in January of 2015. He was a man who absolutely loved being a cop, mentoring other officers and serving the community. In 2007, Lt. Royval was instrumental in starting CPD’s Crime Suppression Unit. He later played a key role in the Department’s initial implementation of Focused Deterrence principles through the Violence Reduction Initiative. His work throughout his tenure at CPD is greatly appreciated by me, my staff, Mayor Berke, and the community.
CPD Chaplains stand ready to assist anyone who needs spiritual support in this difficult time. Our Victim Services Unit will be coordinating additional support for those of us who need it.
This is going to be a very difficult time for both the Royval and Chattanooga Police families. Please keep the entire Royval family in your thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy as they continue to cope with the loss of their beloved husband, father, son, and brother.”
Chief Fred Fletcher
Here is a story we aired in October of 2014, in which Lt. Royval is one of several city leaders frustrated by a violent weekend in the city.
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