Chattanooga City Mayor Seeks Citizen Participation in Police Chief Survey and names Advisory Panel

On Friday, July 26, 2024, Mayor Tim Kelly of Chattanooga announced a new online Community Survey, appealing to Chattanooga residents to participate and play a pivotal role in selecting the city’s next Chief of Police. The Mayor urged the citizens to “make their voices heard” in this crucial selection process.

Anyone interested can take the three-question survey online at chattanooga.gov/chief, a platform created for the purpose. Through this survey, city administrators hope to gain an understanding as to what the public views as essential qualities and focus areas for their next police chief. The survey also features a free text field, enabling residents to express their opinions and suggestions in more detail.

Mayor Kelly’s Statement

Mayor Kelly emphasized the need for citizen input, saying, “As we move through the interview process for our Chief of Police candidates, we want to hear from all parts of Chattanooga. I’m asking every Chattanoogean to spend about three minutes to ‘Make your voice heard’ by taking our brief survey that will help inform the selection of our next chief of police.”

Advisory Panel Announcement

Alongside the announcement of the survey, the Mayor also divulged the names of the members comprising an Advisory Panel. This Panel will contribute to the selection of Chattanooga’s next police chief with its collective advice and feedback.

The intent behind establishing such an Advisory Panel is to include diverse voices, backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas from Chattanooga’s community, thereby ensuring that the chosen candidate is the best fit for both the residents and the police department.

In expressing gratitude to the panel members, Mayor Kelly said, “I want to thank this group of Chattanoogans for agreeing to volunteer their time to ensure Chattanooga gets the best possible police chief for our community and the Chattanooga Police Department. Together with the input we receive from the community survey, this panel will make sure that Chattanooga’s entire community is well represented in the decision-making process.” He further expressed his gratitude to Councilwoman Raquetta Dotley for agreeing to serve as chair.

Composition of the Advisory Panel

Chaired by Councilwoman Dotley, who also serves as chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, the Advisory Panel includes residents from different areas of Chattanooga, members of various communities and organizations, and several representatives from Chattanooga Police Department (CPD).

It is expected that the combined efforts of the community survey and the Advisory Panel will ensure a thorough and representative selection procedure, thereby resulting in the appointment of a police chief who will be well-received and supported by the entire Chattanooga community.