The Tennessee mayor said the indictment of former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy so soon after she resigned is a “sad day for our community.”
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp made the remarks Thursday after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced that a grand jury in that county had handed down a 17-count indictment against Murphy, including felony and misdemeanor charges.
“Those of us entrusted with serving the public have a responsibility to maintain that trust,” Wamp wrote to X. “The Chattanooga Police Department is a respected law enforcement agency and I am confident it will thrive again under new leadership.”
The TBI said special agents began investigating Murphy’s residence in April and “determined that Murphy knowingly provided false information on several government documents related to establishing a residence in Chattanooga, although he had sworn to the truth when signing the documents.”
Former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy faces criminal charges one day after resigning
Celeste Murphy has served as Chattanooga’s police chief since April 2022. (Chattanooga Police Department)
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.
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.
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Celeste Murphy resigned as Chattanooga Police Chief on Wednesday, June 26th. (Chattanooga Police Department)
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said Wednesday he has “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.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said Murphy’s indictment was a “sad day for our community.” (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)
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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.
