Police Chief Dodd is asset to Chattanooga
One of the mayor’s stated priorities is improved public safety. He has an excellent chief of police in place to accomplish that objective.
Chief Bobby Dodd is almost unique among CPD chiefs in that he has spent considerable time being an effective, street-level police officer and criminal investigator. Many chiefs in the past have had very narrow career tracks and limited hands-on police experience. But Chief Dodd knows how to prevent and solve crimes because he has been engaged in authentic, hands-on, effective law enforcement for many years.
Admittedly, being a good street-level cop doesn’t ensure success as a police administrator. However, Chief Dodd has a wealth of effective experience in administrative assignments and has achieved each of his promotions through legitimate, rigorous promotional testing. He also has the leadership instincts, intelligence, political tact and concern for the community to be an effective administrator and public official.
Chief Dodd also understands a long-neglected element of police administration: morale matters. Excellent police leaders know how to combine sound discipline among the members of the force, while firing up those same members to work harder.
“Duty” gives 100 percent effort; “leadership” gets 110 percent. Chief Dodd knows how to provide true leadership.