This will be the first of many questionable decisions in what I anticipate will be an agonizing four years of Tim Kelly‘s liberal tenure.
One thing I have learned in the span of my life is that hiring from within when seeking a qualified applicant for an important job like police chief is the best way for a candidate to hit the ground running.
Hiring from outside is almost always a political and partisan appointment.
Hiring from outside has often been a massive waste of taxpayer money. Any idea of the cost of finding the last three school superintendents?
Hire from within our own police department, politics be hung. Chattanooga needs someone already familiar with the department personnel, structure, methods and practices; one who knows Chattanooga and its people. Chattanooga doesn’t need someone who will take the next six months “getting a feel for the job,” getting to know the staff and officers and learning the proper angle to kiss the right hindquarters.
Your honeymoon isn’t over yet, Mr. Kelly, and you need to make proper and correct decisions now.
Dave Fihn
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Why does Mayor Kelly want to do a nationwide search for a new police chief?
This has to be degrading to our fine law enforcement officers we now have and sure many of them can do the job as well as one from another state.
Hire from within, Mayor Kelly, and keep the moral and spirits of our men and women in blue at a premium.
Michael Mansfield
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Why not search within first? Isn't that what seasoned business people do, especially elected ones?
Is it reasonable to venture outside of Chattanooga initially to search for a qualified police chief? We do not when selecting/electing our mayor - and the mayor is their boss.
As a city resident and taxpayer, I do not want $1 of my hard-earned city tax annual payment leaving our city (too much already does, i.e. paying Chicago to bill/collect sewer, etc., vs. "hiring local" accounting firms).
Invest in our city. Not only are there talented people here who are willing to learn and give their all, they love this place already. It's home.
Bren Turner