Former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy is facing 17 charges, including felonies and misdemeanors, a day after she resigned from her position.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday that a Hamilton County grand jury handed down the indictment after special agents began investigating her residence in April.
“During the investigation, agents determined that Murphy knowingly provided false information on multiple government documents related to his residency in Chattanooga, although he swore to the truth when signing the documents,” the TBI said in a statement.
Murphy, who became police chief in April 2022 and resigned on Wednesday, was charged with “one count of unlawful voter registration, one count of making a false entry in an official registration or election document, three counts of making a false entry in a government record, three counts of forgery, three counts of perjury and six counts of official misconduct,” the TBI added.
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Celeste Murphy resigned as Chattanooga Police Chief on Wednesday, June 26th. (Chattanooga Police Department)
Murphy turned himself in to the Hamilton County Jail Thursday morning, where he was later arrested and released on $19,000 bail, the department said.
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said yesterday that he had “accepted the resignation of Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy, effective immediately,” according to WZTV.
“The circumstances surrounding this situation are difficult, but I respect her desire to protect the integrity of the Chattanooga Police Department,” Kelly was reported as saying.
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Celeste Murphy has served as Chattanooga Police Chief since April 2022. (Chattanooga Police Department)
WZTV reports that Chattanooga Police Department’s current top police chief, Harry Somers, will step into Murphy’s vacant position while the mayor’s office begins the selection process for the next chief.
“It is a sad day for law enforcement when an officer and chief are charged with violating the law, tarnishing the badge we all wear with pride,” the Fraternal Order of Police told Local 3 News.
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“We appreciate the thorough investigation conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation,” the police organization added. “We support the interim chief and will work with the mayor’s office in selecting Chattanooga’s next police chief.”
