Former Chattanooga Police Chief Indicted on Multiple Charges including Illegal Voter Registration and Perjury

By HERE News, June 27

Celeste Murphy, the former Chattanooga Police Chief, Faces Several Charges

Celeste Murphy, the previous chief of Chattanooga’s police, has been implicated in multiple charges, including illegal voter registration and perjury, released by state investigators on Thursday. The 56-year-old handed herself over to the Hamilton County jail and was subsequently released on a $19,000 bond. Murphy is scheduled to face the court on July 12.

A 17-count Indictment Brought Forward by a Grand Jury in Hamilton County

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) revealed the charges were presented as a 17-count indictment by the grand jury in Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga. The charges are extensive and include obscuring official documents, forgery, perjury, falsifying government records, and multiple counts of official misconduct.

Murphy under Investigation for Conflicting Residency Claims

Investigation into Murphy’s activities commenced in April after inconsistencies were detected in her tax forms in Georgia and voter registration in Tennessee. These discrepancies were first reported by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Findings from the investigation revealed that Murphy claimed primary residencies in both Georgia and Tennessee while she was police chief. However, the policy for public employees in Chattanooga requires them to reside in Tennessee.

The former Chief of Police has taken the homestead exemption on a property she owns in Fulton County, Georgia, since 2021. This tax reduction is only applicable to individuals who testify that the property in question is their primary residence. Meanwhile, to register and vote in Tennessee, a person must affirm that their primary residence is in the state, a statement Murphy also made.

Alleged False Information Provided on Government Documents

The TBI, in a press release, stated that “agents determined that Murphy knowingly provided false information on various government papers related to her residency in Chattanooga, despite affirming their truthfulness while signing these documents.” In an earlier social media post, Murphy stated that she could not disclose her Chattanooga residency for safety reasons.

Conclusion

As the investigations into the alleged misconduct by the former Chattanooga police chief continue, the extent of the charges underlines the severity of the alleged crimes, casting a stern gaze on matters of integrity and public trust in officeholders. The outcomes of the upcoming court hearing scheduled for July 12 will further reveal the truth about these allegations.

Source: HERE News Network