UPDATE: Former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy indicted on 17 counts | Local News

TO UPDATE: Former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy faces one felony and one minor felony charge, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

On Thursday morning, Murphy turned herself in to the Hamilton County Jail, where she was booked and released on $19,000 bail.

On Tuesday, a Hamilton County grand jury indicted Murphy on the following charges:

• 1 case of illegal voter registration
• 1 case of false entries in official registration or election documents
• 3 cases of false entries in government records
• 3 cases of forgery
• 3 cases of perjury
• 6 cases of abuse of office

During the TBI’s investigation of her residence, agents discovered that Murphy had knowingly made false statements on documents related to her residence in Chattanooga, despite swearing to the truth.

PREVIOUS STORY: After serving as chief of the Chattanooga Police Department for just over two years, Celeste Murphy has submitted her resignation.

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly accepted the resignation of Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy on Wednesday.

Questions surround Murphy’s tenure in Chattanooga, her residency and the Brady letters that led to the transfer of 15 CPD officers and were later overturned.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the investigation into Murphy’s city of residence is ongoing.

In May 2024, Murphy extended her employment contract with the City of Chattanooga for another year, which was approved by Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly.

Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy looks back on her first year as the first black woman to lead the police force.

A press release from Kelly’s office said:

“This morning, I accepted the resignation of Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy, effective immediately. While the circumstances of the situation have been challenging, I respect her desire to maintain the integrity of the Chattanooga Police Department,” said Mayor Kelly. “The brave men and women of the CPD serve our community with distinction every day and over the past two years, Chattanooga has experienced a significant decrease in crime and the CPD has enhanced its reputation as a national leader in community policing, violence reduction, crisis response and case resolution. Under Chief Murphy’s leadership, the department has achieved a clearance rate of over 90% in homicide investigations, which is about twice the national average and a testament to the strong relationship the CPD has built with the community it serves. Public safety is the foundation of healthy communities and finding the right person to lead the Chattanooga Police Department as our next Chief of Police is critical.”

Kelly’s office said Harry Sommers, the current acting chief of CPD and a 40-year veteran of law enforcement, will serve as interim police chief.

Before coming to Chattanooga, Murphy served with the Atlanta Police Department, where she began as a patrol officer and rose to the rank of deputy chief before moving to the Scenic City.