published Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

Chattanooga Police Officer Kenneth Freeman fired


by Jacqueline Koch

Chattanooga Police Officer Kenneth Freeman was fired today after an internal affairs investigation found he violated department policy in two internal affairs complaints investigations, police said.

In one case, Officer Freeman was investigated for consuming alcohol while armed, carrying an unauthorized off-duty firearm and conformance to law. In the second case, he was investigated for insubordination and two complaints of conduct unbecoming an officer, police spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary said in a news release.

Three complaints were sustained — consuming alcohol while armed, conduct unbecoming an officer relating to fraud by turning in hours not worked and carrying an unauthorized off-duty firearm, she said. His termination is effective immediately but he can appeal the decision to the Chattanooga City Council, Sgt. Weary said.

Officer Freeman served a 28-day suspension earlier this year after an internal affairs investigation that he exhibited conduct unbecoming an officer, improper procedure and excessive use of force in connection with an assault of a Wal-Mart greeter.

See tomorrow’s Times Free Press for complete details.

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Salsa said...

Cue Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Its all part of a convoluted interplanetary conspiracy to deny Michael Vick a quarterback job in the NFL. Wlamart was in on it too. You heard it here first.

August 12, 2009 at 11:35 a.m.
RBG1922 said...

I don't think it's a conspiracy at all...you do dirt...you're gonna get dirty. He'll be alright. No need for Jessed Jackson, Al Sharpton or the tiny violins.

August 12, 2009 at 12:36 p.m.
boogityshoo said...

What about Al Sharpton dressed as Tiny Tim playing a tiny violin?

August 12, 2009 at 1:11 p.m.
RBG1922 said...

Ha! Comedic? YES! Necessary? NOPE!!!

August 12, 2009 at 1:23 p.m.
Tax_Payer said...

Society grants members of law enforcement enormous power over citizens to enable the police to keep the peace and to preserve social order. They are granted a great deal of freedom to use their judgment regarding which laws to enforce, when and against whom. This wide range of options and authority can lead to the abuse of their power. Some police officers come to see themselves not as simply enforcers of the law, but as the law itself....

There is a difference between personal and professional misconduct. When an officer's behavior starts getting out of line, the chief usually attempts to deal with it in-house. But when the officer's activities embarrass higher-ups, risk criminal prosecutions, or become public knowledge, he then becomes a political — and legal — liability.

http://www.abuseofpower.info/Culture_Standards.htm

August 12, 2009 at 1:24 p.m.
moonpie said...

I don't think I'm going out on a limb here:

I bet this is not the last we hear of Kenneth Freeman's brushes with the law.

Hopefully he can get things turned around, but he seems in a downward spiral.

August 12, 2009 at 11:29 p.m.
RBG1922 said...

I agree moonpie...I don't think we've heard the last of him at all. I hope he truly learns something from all of this though, he ought to be tired of getting in trouble.

Maybe he just likes to be in the spotlight.

August 13, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.
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