Though the recent weeks of protests and calls for police reform in Chattanooga took place under Mayor Andy Berke, he has less than a year left in office.
It’s his successor who will be tasked with setting the tone for budgeting, policy and any law enforcement reforms in the city.
Among the five candidates who have announced their campaigns for Berke’s seat, which is up for election in March, views on the recent “I Can’t Breathe” movement and subsequent calls for defunding, divesting from and otherwise reforming the Chattanooga Police Department vary from near agreement to complete opposition.
This week, the Times Free Press asked candidates to share their views on police reform in the city and to address proposals by activists to cut or eliminate the police department’s budget and reallocate some responsibilities to non-law enforcement personnel.