Officer Adam Cooley, from left, Officer Sean Emmer Chattanooga Police DepartmentThe city will appeal a judge’s order to rehire two Chattanooga police officers who were fired after a federal inmate suffered a compound fracture when he was beaten during a disorder call last year.
“I stand with Chief [Bobby] Dodd on his decision to terminate the officers’ employment,” Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke said in a statement Monday afternoon. “We must maintain the trust of our community, and I will not allow the actions of a few to tarnish the good work of so many officers who do their jobs the right way every day.”
An administrative law judge on Thursday ordered the city to give Sean Emmer and Adam Cooley their jobs back. Community reaction was swift; groups organized and called on citizens to show up at today’s City Council meeting to urge leaders to appeal the decision.
Berke said the city would appeal on the first day allowed — Oct. 10. The city has two options: Hamilton County Circuit Court or Chancery Court.
In an interview with the Times Free Press, Dodd said he would fire the officers again if he had the chance. Judge Kim Summers’ decision, he said, wouldn’t change how he handled the case.