Coty Wamp is running to be our next district attorney against current District Attorney Neal Pinkston.
I have a few questions about her appointment to be general counsel at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
I hope to seek clarification about the hiring process and why and how she was selected for this newly created position.
Coty is the daughter of former U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp and brother to current Hamilton County Mayoral candidate Weston Wamp.
When Sheriff Jim Hammond appointed Ms.
Wamp to the position of general counsel for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office he said, "In this newly created in-house position, Ms. Wamp will be responsible for providing advice and counsel to the sheriff and his command staff on matters pertaining to investigations, daily operation, policy matters and public media inquiries. The new HCSO general counsel will work directly with the Hamilton County Attorney’s Office to gather information related to anticipated and pending litigation, the procurement and preservation of evidence and to identify other items necessary for discovery and trial work. The Hamilton County Attorney’s Office will continue to provide legal representation and counsel for the HCSO in lawsuits and trial advocacy.”
My questions are:
1) Why was it necessary for this new position to have been created?
2) How many other candidates were interviewed during the hiring process that selected Coty Wamp to become general counsel at the HCSO? Was this job opportunity advertised publicly and, if so, where and for how long?
3) Was this newly created position created in a strategic manner to be a stepping stone for Coty to become the new district attorney and look out for the HCSO’s best interests?
4) Given the nature of a DA having to investigate police misconduct is her current job a conflict of interest given her close proximity and employment by the Sheriff?
5) There have been some high profile arrests of Sheriff’s deputies in the past and even our former Sheriff Billy Long was convicted and sent to prison for corruption. Will Coty Wamp be motivated and impartial to prosecute deputies if they break the law without favoritism?
6) Former Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Wilkey was charged with more than 40 counts ranging from rape and sexual battery to oppression and extortion.
If elected district attorney will Coty Wamp hold corrupt officers and deputies accountable?
Andrew McLaren
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Andrew, these questions are valuable and provide a timely opportunity for me to set the record straight. This is the most important local election cycle our county has seen in decades. More people like you need to be asking all candidates important questions. Instead of having someone else respond to your inquiries, I prefer to answer questions myself. I take a lot of pride in being accessible. You’re also welcome to email me using the address below anytime. It will come directly to me.
1) Why was it necessary for this new position to have been created?
Currently, the Sheriff’s Office has over 550 employees. The County Attorney’s Office has the enormous responsibility of representing all of Hamilton County government. A majority of that work involves litigation that requires a lot of time, resources and effort. Before I joined the Sheriff’s Office the county attorney was the only entity available to help the Sheriff’s Office with all legal matters. This includes contracts, MOUs, officer training, records request, accreditation management, civil service representation, involvement in the procurement process, involvement and advising through internal due process hearings, general legal advising within the administration, and general legal advising amongst law enforcement. Now that the position of general counsel has been created, the county attorney is able to focus only on the Sheriff’s Office litigation, and I handle everything else.
The County Attorney’s Office was intricately involved in the decision to create this position and emphatically recommended it. It’s also not an unusual concept. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has had in-house counsel for years—my job description was largely based on the duties of KCSO’s Chief Counsel, Mike Ruble.
2) How many other candidates were interviewed during the hiring process that selected Coty Wamp to become general counsel at the HCSO? Was this job opportunity advertised publicly and, if so, where and for how long?
Five candidates applied. Four were interviewed by an interview panel that included a County Attorney, Dee Hobbs. Notably, the sheriff was not on the interview panel (he never is) and I did not know a single person on the panel. This is a matter of public record.
The position was advertised publicly, which is how I applied, through the advertisement on the HCSO website. It was advertised pursuant to HCSO policy and the statutory Civil Service Rules with which the Sheriff’s Office must comply.
3) Was this newly created position created in a strategic manner to be a stepping stone for Coty to become the new district attorney and look out for the HCSO’s best interests?
No. See answer number 1. When I accepted the position of general counsel I had no idea I would run for district attorney. When I leave the Sheriff’s Office, the position of general counsel will continue to exist and will be filled by another competent and qualified attorney.
4) Given the nature of a DA having to investigate police misconduct is her current job a conflict of interest given her close proximity and employment by the sheriff?
No. In fact, the opposite is true. The district attorney must work hand-in-hand with our local law enforcement agencies. The relationship is paramount. The criminal justice system will not effectively function if the DA does not have constant and healthy communication with our local law enforcement. I will rebuild the relationships and bridge the gaps that currently exist. My office will consistently be assisting our law enforcement agencies so that once a case gets to court, prosecution is successful. When elected, my connection to the Sheriff’s Office will be valuable. I have also spent a lot of time getting to know multiple divisions of the Chattanooga Police Department and other police departments in town. I intend to continue to forge close relationships with all of law enforcement.
I will give all of my support and assistance to Chief Murphy, future Sheriff Garrett, and every other police chief in this county.
5) There have been some high profile arrests of sheriff’s deputies in the past and even our former Sheriff Billy Long was convicted and sent to prison for corruption. Will Coty Wamp be motivated and impartial to prosecute deputies if they break the law without favoritism?
Yes.
6) Former Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Wilkey was charged with more than 40 counts ranging from rape and sexual battery to oppression and extortion.
If elected district attorney will Coty Wamp hold corrupt officers and deputies accountable?
If you commit a criminal offense in Hamilton County you will be treated the same by my office regardless of occupation. You will also be treated the same regardless of skin color or socioeconomic background. If any district attorney ever favors one group of people over another, that person should be removed from office.
I have been very clear about my commitment to law enforcement—if officers and deputies in this county treat people well and respect constitutional rights, I will have their back. I will support them and defend them. That’s part of the job of the district attorney. Per Tennessee statute, the district attorney is the chief law enforcement officer in the judicial district. The District Attorney’s Office is the Chief Law Enforcement Office in the judicial district. This is why every prosecutor carries a badge. The district attorney is on the same side of the justice system as law enforcement. I will always be fair and I will always seek truth and justice. But I will never shy away from the fact that law enforcement deserves the support and respect of the district attorney. If I am elected, they will have both.
Coty Wamp
cotywampda@gmail.com