Former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy is facing a 17-count indictment containing felony and misdemeanor criminal charges following an investigation into her residency. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced that a Hamilton County Grand Jury returned the indictment after special agents looked into the matter.
According to the TBI statement, it was found that Murphy had knowingly provided false information on government documents related to establishing residency in Chattanooga, despite swearing to their accuracy by signing the documents.
The charges against Murphy include one count of Illegal Voter Registration, one count of False Entries on Official Registration or Election Documents, three counts of False Entries in Governmental Records, three counts of Forgery, three counts of Perjury, and six counts of Official Misconduct.
Murphy surrendered at the Hamilton County Jail on Thursday morning and was later released after posting a $19,000 bond. Her resignation from the position of police chief was accepted by Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, who acknowledged the challenging circumstances surrounding the situation.
Harry Sommers, the current Executive Chief of Police, will assume the role of police chief while the mayor's office begins the search for a new chief. The Fraternal Order of Police expressed disappointment over the indictment, emphasizing the importance of upholding the law in law enforcement.
The organization also commended the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for its thorough investigation and pledged support for the interim chief and the mayor's office in finding Chattanooga's next police chief.
