City To Appeal Order To Give Jobs Back To Police Officers Involved In Adam Tatum Altercation

  • Monday, September 30, 2013

Mayor Andy Berke said Monday that the city plans to appeal an order of an administrative law judge giving two city police officers who were involved in an altercation with Adam Tatum their jobs back.

The mayor said, “After carefully studying the opinion and considering our options with Police Chief Dodd and City Attorney Hinton, I have ordered the city attorney’s office to appeal this decision on the first day allowed (Oct. 10).  

"I stand with Chief Dodd on his decision to terminate the officers’ employment.  We must maintain the trust of our community, and I will not allow the actions of a few to tarnish the good work of so many officers who do their jobs the right way every day.”

Hearing Officer Kim Summers, in a 30-page opinion, ruled in favor of officers Adam Cooley and Sean Emmer. She heard three days of testimony.

She said that "Chattanooga did not show by a preponderance of the evidence that termination of the Grievants was appropriate."  

The incident happened June 12, 2012, at a Salvation Army halfway house on McCallie Avenue. Tatum was staying there after his release from federal prison.

He faced charges in connection with the altercation with the officers, but those charges were dismissed.

The incident was caught in a highly-publicized video.


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