Tommy Kennedy of the Chattanooga Police

More Chattanooga police officers are traveling through the ranks after a series of retirements and promotions in the 461-member department.

Assistant Chief Tommy Kennedy, who oversees patrol operations, will become deputy chief for the department on Friday. The position of deputy chief has been vacant since July 2011 when former Deputy Chief Mike Williams retired.

Kennedy will help oversee day-to-day operations.

"I'm just looking forward to the challenges associated with this job and continue to move this department forward in the direction Chief Dodd has planned for it," said Kennedy, whose father is former Chief Tom Kennedy.

Capt. Randy Dunn will be promoted to assistant chief to take Kennedy's place and continue to work with uniform services, which oversees patrol officers.

Veteran Assistant Chief Tim Carroll, who spent many years working homicide cases, will retire Monday, marking exactly 30 years with the department. Carroll worked homicides from 1989 to 1995.

Lt. Kirk Eidson will be promoted to assistant chief to oversee criminal investigations.

Chief Bobby Dodd appoints officers to the positions of deputy chief, assistant chief and captain. Officers seeking promotions to positions of sergeant and lieutenant are required to take a written exam and complete an assessment administered through an outside company, Morris and McDaniel. The company assigns ranks to applicants for administrators' use.

Other recent promotions include Lt. Edwin McPherson, who received a promotion to captain and will continue to oversee special investigative units.

Sgt. Zach McCullough was promoted to lieutenant and six officers were promoted to sergeant.