Chattanooga names four finalists for police chief
Jan. 28—The city of Chattanooga has selected four finalist candidates to potentially take over as the new chief of the city's police department.
The nationwide search began in November after a series of public comment sessions. All of the candidates have decades of experience in public safety, and three of four of the candidates are people of color. Mayor Tim Kelly's administration has said it prioritizes hiring a diverse pool of individuals.
The following candidates and their biographies were provided in a Friday news release from the city:
— Atlanta Police Department Deputy Chief Celeste Murphy: Murphy has served in the department for more than 20 years, where she has served as a patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant and captain. She was appointed to the rank of major in 2016 and was chosen to lead the Office of Professional Standards. She is the sixth woman to serve as a precinct commander and the first woman to command two different precincts in the history of the department.
— New Orleans Police Department Deputy Superintendent Paul Noel: Noel has served in the department for more than 20 years. His experience includes serving as commanding officer for the special victims section, the criminal investigation division and the chief of field operations. In his current role, he oversees all investigative functions, the crime lab and various support functions.
— Vancouver Police Department Assistant Chief Troy Price: Price began his career in law enforcement in Chicago, and he now helps lead the Vancouver Police Department in Washington state. He oversees the department's precincts, patrol personnel and a team of more than 100 volunteers.
— Chattanooga Police Department Assistant Chief Glenn Scruggs: Scruggs has nearly 30 years of service in Chattanooga. He has worked in the public housing unit, the neighborhood policing bureau and the investigations bureau. He oversees approximately 260 sworn officers.
The candidates have experience in cities with some of the highest homicide rates in the country.
New Orleans, for example, ranked second in the country in 2020 with 51 murders per 100,000 residents, according to the nonprofit organization The Trace.
Chicago ranked ninth with 28.6 murders per 100,000 residents.
"They have a clear and demonstrated capacity to deal with violent crime," said Kelly's chief of staff Joda Thongnopnua during a Friday phone interview.
The salary for a new police chief, which is based on experience, ranges from $145,000 to $170,000, Thongnopnua added.
The applicants will have a final interview with Kelly for the job on Feb. 10, he said. The candidates will also meet with a six-person community committee.
Police Executive Research Forum, a nonprofit organization enlisted by the city to help with the search, will continue to conduct the interview process among the candidates.
The mayor has repeatedly expressed the importance of hiring the right candidate, often referring to it as "the most important decision" of his career.
Former Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy retired after 26 years on the force at the end of July. Deputy Chief Eric Tucker is serving as interim chief.
Contact Logan Hullinger at lhullinger@timesfreepress.com or 814-319-5158. Follow him on Twitter @LoganHullinger.
