Friend, 

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletters. I'd like to start this one out by addressing the officer-involved shooting that took place in our community last Friday evening. It was a terrible incident for everyone involved: Our community, our wounded officer, our police family, and the family and loved ones of Roger Heard, Jr.

When officer-involved shootings like these happen, best practice is to have an outside entity conduct an objective review so that the community can have full faith and confidence in the findings. That process is intentional, and it is good. By having an unbiased third party (in this case, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), which is a state-level law enforcement agency) reconstruct the details surrounding such an event, the public can be confident that the findings will be fact-based. Because this process happens separate from and outside of the purview or potential influence of the police department or of the mayor's office, there tends to be a period of time during which information is limited while the third party does its work. That’s where we are now. 

As the TBI conducts its independent probe into what exactly happened, I am asking for your patience, and I am asking that you not jump to conclusions. TBI agents are working diligently and impartially to determine the series of events that led to the exchange of gunfire. All of the facts will soon come to light.

Officer Celtain Batterson only yesterday underwent an intensive surgery and has not yet been interviewed by investigators. That interview is critical to the TBI investigation. At the same time, we understand the family and friends of the deceased are grappling with new grief at the loss of a loved one. 

The frustration we saw and heard Tuesday night at City Council and on the steps of City Hall was clear and consistent with much of what I heard through the course of my campaign: We are working hard to build trust between our police department and the community. Chief Celeste Murphy’s demonstrated commitment to community policing was a major factor in my decision to hire her, and I have full confidence in her ability to help us navigate difficult situations like these. 

We all want the questions to be answered comprehensively and fairly, not hastily. The agencies involved are working to do that, and at the proper time all of the information related to this incident will be readily available. In the meantime, if I can be of any assistance to you on this or any other matter, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Tim Kelly

Mayor, City of Chattanooga

What's New in Chattanooga

Our pilot project is off to a great start.

This week, our team transitioned the first two participants into permanent housing, and the temporary shelters are already filled by the next two folks in need.  

Help us shape quality places together. Plan Chattanooga is an ambitious effort to involve the community in creating plans for all areas of the city. If you haven’t already, please take the survey and let your voice be heard! 

I'm proud to have signed an agreement between Chattanooga and The City of Trostyanets. A resident-led group will determine the best way to apply their talents to supporting the war-torn city.

August is ‘Older Adults Month’ in Chattanooga. August is full of events and opportunities for the more than 65,000 seniors who are vibrant members of our community. Learn more about them by visiting the Mayor’s Council on Aging and Livability’s Facebook page.  

Upcoming Opportunities

• Yeah, it's hot ☀️ Join our Parks & Outdoors team for its first ever FREE Chatt Town Cool Down on August 25-26 at Ross's Landing.
• Meet Wayne! You can meet Artist Wayne White, known for word paintings, mixed media, and his work in set and puppetry design for music videos at our downtown public library on Friday, August 25. Wayne-o-Rama will be on display through December 31.

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