2 words from judges Poole, Statom could solve jail crowding crisis today
Judge Lila Statom deals with defendant Taylor Satterfield in sessions court in a case that was sent to the grand jury. (Photo Dan Kennedy Wrcbtv.com) Criminalization of non-criminal behavior and examples of bad behavior and misjudgement is pushing Hamilton County into a jail funding and jail crowding crisis, the pressure of which is intensifying. The […]
Ignored Miranda rule spoils city’s ‘community policing’ goals, but offers secret sauce
Mayor Andy Berke oversees the executive branch of Chattanooga government; the police department led by David Roddy is an executive branch agency, accountable to Mr. Berke in executing city (and state) policy. Chattanooga city police chief David Roddy, meeting with reporters in the MSM conference room at the Chattanooga Times Free Press, expresses a desire […]
Berke cops reject constitutional rule to Mirandize all arrestees
David Roddy gives one of many interviews as Chattanooga’s chief of police. (Photo Newschannel9.com) Chattanooga police department in its policy for traffic stops omits a significant element of public protection against arbitrary state power and poisons relations between the Mayor Andy Berke administration and members of the public, especially those traveling on the public right-of-way. […]
10 forms of slavery blacks endure today (largely without realizing it)
This monument to a Confederate general, A.P. Stewart, should offend less than the requirement of the party represented in the building behind, one that says black people cannot marry without state permission. (Photo MP on Flickr) Black activists and Democrat-oriented sympathizers have it easy. They complain bitterly about statues of Confederate notables such as Gen. […]
Blacks in Chattanooga oppressed 10x
Hanson Melvin waits in the Hamilton County criminal court clerk’s office for a copy of his indictment. He had been kidnapped by a Chattanooga police officer, lied about and harassed by a gang of police officers after he’d made bail in May 2016. (Photo David Tulis) Tweet Pin It
Berke’s new police chief faces array of abuses, unfinished business
Chattanooga police acting chief David Roddy admires machine guns belonging to the federal military. Local base commander White is at left. (Photo, Fred Fletcher Twitter) Rochelle Gelpin of Hixson was arrested in her pajamas and groundlessly accused of “disorderly conduct.” Because she “sat on her rights” she was unable to sue for damages.(Photo David Tulis) […]
Gladden, Coonrod traffic stop typifies commercial enforcement
Anthony Gladden speaks to an officer from behind the wheel of a car. (Photo Times Free Press / Chattanooga police department) A traffic stop June 24 involving a car owned by city councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod is a picture of commercial government and its enforcement by police. The encounter on M.L. King Boulevard that night, city […]
Necessity of police reform as cop killings, public anger escalate
Chattanooga police chief Fred Fletcher, left, and his boss, Mayor Andy Berke. Policing is a function of municipal corporation’s executive branch, with little oversight from the city’s legislative branch, the city council. (Photo abcnews-go.com) The mayor Andy Berke administration released results of a survey that will help its chief of police selection committee focus on […]
Citizen commission could highlight crimes by state actors
State oversight of police officers is lax under the auspices of Hamilton County district attorney Neal Pinkston, and city police officers such as these readily escape responsibility for acts upon the citizenry that are torts and crimes, as in the Hanson Melvin case. (Photo Wdef.com) Does Chattanooga need a private commission to review abuses by […]
State bullies man into jail after police encounter over judge at store
Antonio Bell, center, appears to be one of those “Just Busted” faces whose story really is one of innocence of the crimes charged. (Photo David Tulis) Antonio Bell says he is in jail until Sunday under a plea agreement that has him admitting to two misdemeanor counts of retaliation against a judge or officer in […]