Chief Cooper to retire, but could stay under contract

PDF: Chief Cooper resignation letter

Police Chief Freeman Cooper plans to retire by next week but could stay on under a contractual basis as the city's top law enforcement officer, Mayor Ron Littlefield said.

Mr. Littlefield said he plans to present a three-year contract to the City Council today that would extend the police chief's term with the department.

"It would be until the end of my term," Mr. Littlefield said.

The mayor was re-elected to a second four-year term in November.

He said the reason for keeping the chief is because he is an ally in the mayor's moves toward consolidation of city police department and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. The mayor said it would be difficult to find someone at this time who understands the dynamics of the mayor's intentions as Chief Cooper does.

Chief Cooper could not be reached for comment Monday, but in a letter sent to the mayor earlier this month, the chief said his retirement would be effective March 31.

In the letter, Chief Cooper said that he had "mixed emotions" submitting his letter of intent to retire after 28 years of service to the city.

"Having a job that I have loved makes it hard to believe that it has been indeed 28 years," Chief Cooper wrote. "I sincerely thank you for the opportunity to become Chattanooga's 26th chief of police."

Chief Cooper joined the department in 1982 and worked in patrol, internal affairs, training and as both a zone and sector commander before being promoted to executive chief in 2004. He took over as police chief in 2007.

But Mr. Littlefield said Monday the chief could possibly stay on in the job if the council decides to award the contract. If that happens, Chief Cooper would receive the same pay as he does now -- $116,000 annually -- his police pension and a retirement bonus, called the DROP or Deferred Retirement Option Plan. The DROP is a lump sum of money offered as a retirement incentive.

But on Monday, Council Chairman Jack Benson immediately called into question whether the city should pay Chief Cooper's potential contractual salary as well as retirement.

"Financially, it's just like double-dipping," Mr. Benson said.

He also said the DROP was instituted in the first place as a way to entice officers to keep people moving through the police department's ranks. He said holding Chief Cooper in the same position for another three years might deplete morale in the department.

"It's taking away an incentive to let people advance in the ranks," he said.

Mr. Littlefield said he does not see a contract for the chief as "double-dipping" because the city does not pay the pension directly after retirement. The money is put bit by bit into a pension account while the officer is working.

Several council members said Monday they wanted to see the details of the contract before commenting.

Councilman Manny Rico said he did not see paying a future salary and retirement as "double-dipping."

"He earned that and he'll be earning the money we pay him," Mr. Rico said.

Deferred Retirement Option Plan

The normal term of service before a police officer or firefighter is eligible for retirement is 25 years. If an employee retires at that time, the pension payment is 68 percent of his or her gross annual salary.

If employees work at least 28 years but less than 30 years, they are eligible for a lump sum payment of 1.5 times their annual salary in addition to their pension pay. By taking the lump sum, called a DROP, employees lose 3.75 percent of their pension. If an employee works past 30 years, they cannot receive the DROP.

Source: Chattanooga Fire & Police Pension Fund

Chief Freeman Cooper

1982 --Graduates from Chattanooga police academy

1982 -- Assigned to patrol

1985 -- Begins work in internal affairs for the department

1987 -- Works as police spokesman

1989 -- Promoted to sergeant

1991 -- Attends the FBI National Academy, an advanced police training course

1993 -- Becomes a patrol supervisor

1996 -- Works in the training academy

1999 -- Promoted to lieutenant

2000 -- Heads Bravo Zone, which covers downtown area

2001 -- Promoted to captain, takes over as Sector 2 commander, selected supervisor of the year by police department

2004 -- Applies for chief's position, Deputy Chief Steve Parks selected, Capt. Cooper promoted to executive chief

2007 -- Promoted to chief of police

2010 -- Reaches 28 years of service, eligible for retirement with full DROP lump-sum payment

Source: Chattanooga Police Department

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