New Chattanooga police cadets got a toothy welcome to the department Wednesday during the second week of their academy training.
Cadets, wearing a protective “bite suit,” took turns screaming, running, then being tackled and bitten by police dogs.
The trainees spent a day “building confidence” at the Ooltewah High School ROTC course, performing physical training drills, running the obstacle course and training with K-9 officers.
“This is to get them confidence in themselves and their class,” said Lt. Stan Allen, training director.
This is the first Chattanooga police academy in two years. The police department has about 420 officers, or 65 officers short of what officials say they need. In addition, more than 40 officers are eligible to retire at any time, Chief Bobby Dodd said.
The department requested 50 new officers in two academies, but negotiations and a tight city budget brought that number to 25.
Cadet class* 25 total* 3 Hispanic men* 1 black man* 1 black woman* 20 white men* $2 million: Total cost* $80,000: Cost per cadet** Includes pay and equipment for cadets and training staffSource: Chattanooga police
The $2 million price tag for an academy has been the biggest hurdle over the last two budget years. But as officers retire, resign or are fired, the ranks dwindle without a replacement.
Since taking over as chief in July, Dodd has moved administrative and support staff to patrol to keep streets covered.
“We’ve never been this low since I’ve been with the department,” Dodd said.
The chief and previous department heads also have filled patrol positions before other areas of the department, such as investigations.
Dodd said the department will learn at the end of this month if it has qualified for a federally funded academy through the U.S. Department of Justice, which would pay for a 23-cadet class he wants to start in January or February.
“It is my goal to have us at 500 officers before my tenure as chief is over,” Dodd said.
Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said that without the 37-cent property tax increase approved by the City Council in June, there would not be a police academy.
“It was essential to keep the city moving forward; we couldn’t afford to let the city start sliding back,” he said.
During the 19-week academy, cadets are taught patrolling tactics, handling firearms, working with mentally ill individuals and how to fill out reports, Allen said.
After their Jan. 20 graduation, the officers will work for 16 weeks on patrol with a field training officer before being assigned their own beats, he said.
“Our goal is to make sure that the ones who graduate on the 20th of January are the best that we can put out,” Allen said.
“And if that means 25, that’s great. If that means 10, then those 10 will be able to do the job,” he said.
Allen said some attrition during the academy is normal, but each class differs. Some classes have graduated all who started, others only half.
Three of the original 25 cadets dropped out of the class in the first days last week, but will be replaced by Monday, department spokesman Sgt. Jerri Weary said.
Cadets “decided collectively to focus on the events of the day and not to talk with the media” on Wednesday, Weary said.
Contact Todd South at tsouth@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347.