Statement by Chief Fred Fletcher
Last night the world lost a very special person, a brother and friend. Monday night retired Chattanooga Police Department Lieutenant Todd Royval passed away. Lt. Royval was loved by family and friends, respected by coworkers, and feared by bad guys. Lt. Royval was a 20-year veteran of the Chattanooga Police Department, retiring in January of 2015. He was a man who absolutely loved being a cop, mentoring other officers and serving the community. In 2007, Lt. Royval was instrumental in starting CPD’s Crime Suppression Unit. He later played a key role in the Department’s initial implementation of Focused Deterrence principles through the Violence Reduction Initiative. His work throughout his tenure at CPD is greatly appreciated by me, my staff, Mayor Berke, and the community. CPD Chaplains stand ready to assist anyone who needs spiritual support in this difficult time. Our Victim Services Unit will be coordinating additional support for those of us who need it. This is going to be a very difficult time for both the Royval and Chattanooga Police families. Please keep the entire Royval family in your thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy as they continue to cope with the loss of their beloved husband, father, son, and brother.
Retired Chattanooga police Lt. Todd Royval, formerly in charge of the police department’s anti-gang efforts, died Monday in East Ridge, according to police.
Royval, 46, apparently committed suicide, sources said. The incident happened around 8:30 p.m. on the 400 block of Bluebird Circle, according to East Ridge police.
Officers responded to a report of a car crash and found a pickup truck, still running, smashed into a sedan.
Royval was found lying dead beside the truck when officers arrived. A handgun was found next to his body, and he was “bleeding from the head,” according to East Ridge police.