Dorothy Royal usually shies away from attention, but when the East Chattanooga Neighborhood Improvement League hosted a fish fry to celebrate police Capt. Brian Cotter’s retirement, Royal moved quickly to sing his praises.
“We could call on him and he was always there for us,” she said without hesitation. “He is a real crime-fighter.”
Royal was one of dozens of East Chattanooga residents, elected officials and city workers celebrating Cotter’s 30-year career as a police officer this week at Avondale Center.
Avondale Neighborhood Association President James Moreland fried fish in Cotter’s honor. And Teal Thibaud, executive director of Glass House Collective, presented Cotter with a gift card for a round of golf.
Cotter, 55, worked for the Chattanooga Police Department from June 6, 1986, to June 5, 2016.