Here is a unique concept. Why don't we hire the most qualified candidate available based on the content of his/her character no matter where they are from.
Douglas Jones
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There you go again, Douglas, making sense on the hiring of a new chief. I honestly felt Chief Roddy met most if not all qualification needed for a good chief. Prior chiefs have been disappointing. They failed to hold their subordinates to higher standard, and allowed them to just run roughshod, with little to no accountability, over segments of Chattanooga's population.
What constitutes a good, great even, chief is someone who doesn't come already with a lot of baggage, hidden or otherwise. One who's actually in charge and willing to hold their own accountable when they go rogue, and not cover up for them or threaten citizens brave enough to speak up and out.
A good, great even, chief listens to all the citizens and is not controlled by a select few. They don't just up and follow orders, and they certainly never allow those under their charge to follow orders without question.
The few times a Chattanooga police chief took a stand their underlings, as well as certain members of the public, turned on them and started a campaign to get rid of them. Chief Jimmy Dotson comes to mind. Some warned, myself included, that's exactly what would happen. There were Chattanoogans who wanted him to do all kinds of crazy stuff that had nothing to do with enforcing and upholding the law. Those individuals want someone they can control and not someone who is in control. Big difference!
But here's a clue, from a personal standpoint: I'm not going to tolerate misconduct, aggression or abuse from any person or persons of authority, police or other, no matter what shade they come in. Those who are willing to sit back and remain silent when obvious wrongs against segments of the population are targeted and suffering because the authority figure in charge looks like them, might as well sit down and shut up when those same wrongs are committed under the leadership of someone who doesn't.
Brenda Washington