Chattanooga: Public forum focuses on police department

Chattanooga residents and law enforcement personnel praised the Chattanooga Police Department during a public forum tonight.

The forum is part of the department’s reaccreditation process through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.

Accreditation through CALEA is essential in applying for and receiving grant money, as well as in defending the department during lawsuits, officials have said.

Several local law enforcement personnel at the federal and local levels attended the meeting and spoke about the solid relationships between the Chattanooga Police Department and their agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The federal agencies utilize Chattanooga officers on their task forces, and the agents said they appreciate the experience and knowledge those officers bring.

“We have received excellent, excellent, excellent support from them for any mission we may have,” said DEA resident agent-in-charge Ben Scott. “We are successful here because of the relationship we have established with the city of Chattanooga.”

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.