It has come to my attention that our present Chief of Police, Fred Fletcher, is resigning at the end of his contract on July 6.
It is very disappointing to the citizens of Chattanooga to know that we have approximately 400 good and capable men and women in our Chattanooga Police Department who have 20-25 years of service and work day and night, studied, risked their lives for the safety of all the citizens in Chattanooga, and some have reached the rank of assistant chief, but have been overlooked for the
promotion to the position of chief.
It is an insinuation and insult to the citizens of Chattanooga and our entire Police Department not to promote within the ranks.
It is our hope that the replacement for Chief Fred Fletcher on July 6 will come from within the ranks of our fine Chattanooga Police Department.
Ed Gravitte
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Over the decades Chattanooga has already hire a number police chiefs locally. While some turned out to be nothing more than toothless tigers without so much as a loud roar, refusing to, or too intimidated themselves to reign in and control their bad cops. The others simply looked the other way, made excuses for, covered up, threatened or allowed threats to be made against citizens who complained, condoned their acts, or even encouraged them to behave dishonorably and unprofessionally.
There's nothing really convincing that a locally hired chief will be any better now than those locals hired in the past.
Brenda Washington