Former Chattanooga police officer Sean Emmer testifies during a hearing to appeal his and Adam Cooley’s termination Thursday in the Chattanooga City Council room of City Hall. Emmer and Cooley were terminated in November after their involvement in the beating of Adam Tatum last June.WHAT’S NEXT
The appeal hearing for Emmer and Cooley will resume July 3. Scheduled witnesses include training officer Philip McClain, Sgt. Michael Wenger and former Bravo officer Latoya Tate.Administrative Law Judge Kim Summers will have 15 days to issue an initial order and up to 60 days for a final decision. Attorneys for either side may appeal to Hamilton County Chancery Court.
Two former Chattanooga officers denied in testimony Thursday they used excessive force when they arrested a federal inmate at a halfway house last year.
Adam Tatum, 37, had blackened eyes, a broken nose, and had eight breaks to his legs including a compound fracture.
About a dozen officers responded to the June 14, 2012, call at some point, but Officers Adam Cooley and Sean Emmer — who video shows landed the most blows on Tatum — were fired.
“Like I told Mr. Tatum in the hospital, ‘I hate things transpired that way. I have nothing against you. Everything is a reaction to what you gave me,'” Cooley said during the second day of testimony.