Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy resigned Wednesday. She is under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.City of Chattanooga
Mayor Tim Kelly on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy in the wake of an official misconduct investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Chattanoogan reports.
“This morning I accepted the resignation of Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy, effective immediately. While the circumstances surrounding the situation have been challenging, I respect her desire to preserve the integrity of the Chattanooga Police Department,” said Mayor Kelly.
Mayor Kelly said he will convene a community advisory committee for the search, which will be chaired by City Councilwoman Raquetta Dotley and will include community and faith leaders as well as CPD officers. Former Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher will assist the search committee in an advisory capacity. As with the 2022 Police Chief search, the process "will put a premium on Mayor Kelly and CPD’s core values and priorities, including community engagement, neighborhood policing, gun violence prevention, mental health crisis co-reponse, professional development and recruiting of officers to achieve full force, and a deep commitment to the vision and mission of CPD."
Harry Sommers, CPD’s current Executive Chief of Police and a 40-year law enforcement veteran, will serve as Interim Chief of Police.
