Police unions dissatisfied
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly evidently is satisfied Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy only has a paperwork problem.
A spokesperson for the mayor said he planned to renew her two-year contract, which was up Thursday, and apparently was not worried the longtime former Atlanta police official had signed papers — under penalty of perjury — that she is a resident of Tennessee, yet she owns a house in Fulton County, Georgia, for which she claims a homestead exemption requiring the applicant to certify the dwelling is their primary residence.
City auditor Stan Sewell had been asked to look into the matter last year and found any residency problems were unsubstantiated.
Murphy says she lives in Chattanooga, which her contract requires, and owns property in Georgia. Yet, neighbors said one of the Chattanooga addresses she supplied is occupied by 20-to-30-year olds, and the door at the other address was answered by a police sergeant caring for his mother.