Chattanooga: Judge sides with city ordering 2 ex-officers to stay off job

photo Adam Cooley, left, and Sean Emmer

Circuit Court Judge Neil Thomas sided with the city today granting a temporary restraining order to keep two former officers off their job until an appeal is heard.

But Thomas ordered the city to put former Chattanooga Police officers Sean Emmer and Adam Cooley back on the payroll and pay their benefits.

City attorneys have filed an appeal in Circuit Court against Administrative Law Judge Kim Summers' decision to reinstate Emmer and Cooley. Summers found the officers had acted in accordance with their training when they beat federal inmate Adam Tatum more than 44 times with a metal baton, breaking both his legs, during a confrontation at the Salvation Army on McCallie Avenue.

Based on public outcry, City Attorney Phil Noblett argued the police department would have a difficult time enforcing in the community if the officers were allowed back on the streets.

See tomorrow's Times Free Press for complete details.

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