Police Chief Jeff Gann and wife, Pam
photo by Gail Perry
Soddy Daisy City Manager Janice Cagle on Thursday night introduced Jeff Gann as the city's new chief of police. He is replacing Chief Phillip Hamrick who retired two weeks ago. Chief Gann has been in the Soddy Daisy Police Department for 21 years, and has served as acting police chief during the two years when Police Chief Hamrick was deployed by military service.
Ms.
Cagle said that the new chief is known to be a hard worker and takes advantage of any training that is available. He is a member of multiple law enforcement organizations. “He represents our city so well,” she said.
During the heavy rain and flooding in Soddy Daisy last week, the city’s employees all pitched in to help citizens who were affected. The city manager commended and thanked the fire, police and public works departments for working so well together.
Each commissioner that spoke following Ms. Cagle to echo her comments. “We have so much respect for all our employees, said Commissioner Gene Shipley. He said the way that the community helped one another was a blessing and that he was fortunate to live in Soddy Daisy.
Commissioner Rick Nunley also expressed thanks to the employees of Soddy Daisy and for the help that came from Dallas Bay, the city of East Ridge, Sale Creek and Bradley County. Mayor Robert Cothran said that the excellent employees make the commissioners’ jobs easier. He said, “Thank you for making Soddy Daisy, the city it is today.”
Fire Chief Mike Guffey estimated that during the flood between 20 and 30 water rescues had been made, some by city employees and some by private citizens. He said that 63 houses had been affected in some manner and that 39 houses had been damaged by water getting under their foundations. Of those, 12 are considered to have major structural damage and another 12 to have minor damage. A dollar estimate of the damage has not yet been determined. He, too, praised the public works department and the police, saying they jumped in the water and got people out without being asked to do it. County and state elected officials and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has also been very helpful, he said.
Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness put the number of affected homes at 85.
Commissioner Shipley announced a work day that has been planned for Saturday to make repairs due to the flood. The city has hired contractors with machinery that can be used to move mounds of soil caused by the floodwater and pick up litter out of yards. Also, grass seed and straw has been donated to the city. He asked for volunteers to assist in the work. Anyone who can help should meet at the intersection of Depot and Durham Streets at 8 a.m. Saturday.