Manchester, Tenn., Police Chief Ross Simmons today sought to defuse allegations that the campaign of U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis lied about Simmons’ support for a letter criticizing Republican congressional candidate Scott DesJarlais.
Campaign officials for Davis, D-Tenn., said this week that Simmons and two other police officials criticized comments from DesJarlais about a Chattanooga officer in 2001.
Davis campaign officials cited a police report from an officer who responded to an argument between DesJarlais and his ex-wife at her Chattanooga apartment. The Davis campaign said DesJarlais compared the officer to a deputy on the “Dukes of Hazzard.”
Simmons said city policy doesn’t allow him to sign such a letter and he was uncertain how the letter was placed on his desk.
“I agree with what the letter said, but as a city employee I would not be allowed to sign a letter like that,” Simmons said.