Promotions announced last month on Facebook by the Chattanooga Police Department come with raises of nearly $140,000 a year, pay increases that the mayor's office says are strategic and were already accounted for in the city budget.
Eight top administrators have been promoted as part of an ongoing process, with a total increase in their annual salaries of $138,900. Six of them were promoted to the rank of major, at a salary of $114,800 a year.
The rank of major was used at the department from 1981 to 1994 but had fallen out of use. Top pay when the rank was used previously was $47,300.
Police Chief Celeste Murphy, who took office in April, came to Chattanooga from Atlanta, where the title of major was used - a rank she held there earlier in her career.
"Chief Celeste Murphy's ongoing reorganization of CPD will better delineate roles and responsibilities to address gun violence in our community, through both interdiction as well as addressing the root causes of crime," Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said in a statement.
Those promoted into a rank received an increase to meet current market standards, increases that were part of the department's $85 million budget, according to Ellis Smith, the mayor's director of special projects.
"With just four months under her belt, Chief Murphy has overseen the new focused deterrence initiative, which has taken guns and violent offenders off our streets, while also increasing transparency around enforcement," Kelly said in his statement. "And thanks to the pay increases included in last year's budget, we've filled nearly all open positions, going from 40 to mere single digits."
The promotions were announced July 11. On July 14, the Chattanooga Times Free Press asked for the before-and-after salaries of those who received promotions, along with access to their personnel files. The newspaper also asked how the new ranks and promotions would help curb gun violence in the city.
"The chief's plan on positions, and implementation of her strategic plan for addressing public safety in Chattanooga, that's something she plans to send out but not at this time," Jerri Sutton, the chief's spokeswoman and one of those who received a promotion, said in a July 14 email. "We have additional promotions pending the completion of the promotions process. Once the process is completed, she'll answer questions or make a statement pertaining to all."
The salary information was released to the Times Free Press this past week, and access was granted to the personnel files, which are public records under Tennessee law.
The list of promotions and annual salary increases:
- Nathan Vaughn, from captain at $108,000 to chief of staff at $130,000.
- Jerome Halbert, from captain at $108,000 to assistant chief at $121,000.
- Jerri Sutton, from captain at $98,900 to major at $114,800.
- John Chambers, from captain at $101,800 to major at $114,800.
- Jonathan Bryant, from captain at $101,800 to major at $114,800.
- Daniel Jones, from lieutenant at $85,300 to major at $114,800.
- Bakari Welles, from lieutenant at $96,000 to major at $114,800.
- Scott Fulgham, from captain at $101,100 to major at $114,800.
The raises range from 12% for Halbert to 35% for Jones. The new positions do not mean future layoffs or pay cuts for any of the department's employees, according to the mayor's office.
"Thanks to Chief Murphy's thoughtful realignment of the department, she has been able to effect the restructuring without laying off anyone or cutting any salaries, and nothing of the sort will happen under my watch," Kelly said in his statement. "Chief Murphy has been a strong advocate for additional officers and funding, and I look forward to further conversations with her about how we can strengthen the department."
According to the salary details released by the city, one promotion was not accompanied by an increase in pay. Shae Johnson, the former deputy chief of human resources, was named director of organizational development and retained her pay of $113,400.
Personnel files reviewed by the Times Free Press revealed that Johnson began her career at the department working as a records clerk making around $15,000 a year in 2001. In 2018 Johnson was promoted to senior human resources manager with a salary of $63,000, and in 2021, Johnson's pay was increased to $110,161.
The personnel files also show that Jones, Vaughn, Fulgham and Chambers have prior military experience. They also show Sutton began working at the corrections department in Florida and obtained a bachelor's degree in public relations from Florida A&M University before coming to Chattanooga.
Bryant was a certified emergency medical technician in 1998, then worked for the Bradley County Sheriff's Office, where he stated in his application to the department that "wrongful discharge" was his reason for leaving. The Times Free Press has requested documentation of the discharge. Bryant also worked at the Loudon County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee before coming to Chattanooga, according to the personnel files inspected.
Welles worked in several sports-themed stores in Boston and pursued a career in music, according to the personnel files. Welles worked as a security guard for several months before he was hired by the department, according to the personnel files. On Sept. 12, 2013, Welles was suspended without pay for three days by former Chief Bobby Dodd. Files detailing why he was suspended were not in his personnel file, and the Times Free Press has requested those documents.
When the Times Free Press asked the mayor's office about the new ranks and how the new organization would help curb gun violence in the city, officials said that restructuring of the department under a new chief should be expected.
"The ranks added under Chief Murphy's reorganization are not unprecedented, as the department has used these ranks under previous chiefs of police," Smith said. "Reorganizations are commonplace when a new leader takes over a department, and nearly every city department has gone through such a reorganization since the mayor began restructuring city government last year."
Contributed Photo by Chattanooga Police Department / Organizational ChartBoth the mayor's office and the Police Department indicated the reorganization is ongoing, and the Times Free Press is still seeking information on at least one additional promotion and one new hire.
Glenn Scruggs, a 27-year veteran with the department and one of four finalists considered for the chief's job, has been promoted from assistant chief to executive chief overseeing Neighborhood Policing and Community Services. Details about his new salary have been requested by the Times Free Press.
A new hire from Atlanta also has joined the department: Harry Sommers, who has been named executive chief as well. He comes with 35 years of law enforcement and corporate experience, according to details released by the department to the Times Free Press. Sommers worked with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and most recently worked at the Coca-Cola Co. in Atlanta. Sommers will oversee Investigations, Special Operations and Support Services. Details about his salary have also been requested.
Contact La Shawn Pagán at lpagan@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476. Follow her on Twitter @LaShawnPagan.