[HNA News] police retaliation

Sat Feb 28 20:34:41 PST 2009

All I can say is that Mike Williams, or Mark Raulston , should be the chief. I think they are the best hope to make some serious changes that the department needs and has needed for years. Chief William's actions today are illustrative of what I feel he can do with the agency. 

He is also savvy enough to know how to raise the morale of the agency. 

But to look at things in the narrow vacuum Mr. Commander of hilltop is misplaced. The problems I have seen with the department in my civil rights practice and criminal defense practice is systemic, and it may come to a head in the new litigation involving the wal-mart fiasco. 

I have witnessed the broken face bones, the terrorized minds of clients who suffered at the hands of a small few of the same officers allowed to stay police. I have even experienced the brazen actions of one officer as i readied myself to go to war in Iraq. 

How do you think you got to the point you are at now? It was by an adversarial stance you took. I do not mean to stay as an adversary, but I would not let up until you see real results. 

There is a deep mistrust of the department beyond our little area, and until the city recognizes it, it will not get much better. 

Though I applaud your concerns and efforts, I am afraid it reflects some naivety.  I am afraid you will be going it alone, and least with me. 

Robin Ruben Flores 
Attorney-at-Law 
TENN. BPR #20751 
GA. STATE BAR #200745 
4110-A Brainerd Road 
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37411 
423.267.1575 

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Trey Commander" <trey.commander@ gmail .com> 
To: robinflores @comcast.net 
Cc: hnanews @ hilltopneighborhood .org, " chattanoogan " <news@ chattanoogan .com>, "Robert Nash" < robert . nash @mail. citcomm .com> 
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 5:34:20 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [ HNA News] police retaliation 

With all due respect, I think it is a mistake to point fingers at the department as a whole for the poor judgment of one officer. While the Police may need other issues addressed outside our neighborhood this isn't the forum to air them out, in my opinion.  Furthermore, promoting an adversarial relationship during this time when we have the Police departments attention is not going to change anything for the better and will likely do this opportunity damage.  Those in charge of the department truly appear to have an interest in hearing us and helping us so I would ask everyone to be patient and positive as we work on this. 

As an example, I have spoken with Chief  Dodd and Chief Williams today regarding the ticketing issue.  Chief Williams spoke with Captain Dunn and they are both very upset about the choices Officer Beavers made in ticketing our residents.  Chief Williams and I have had a few phone calls today and he has said that the residents ticketed should NOT pay the tickets and that he would pay them himself if the judge would not throw them out.  He didn't say this to a news camera for PR he said this to one person on a cell phone on a Saturday.  I took him as very sincere in his frustrations.  I believe Chief Williams has also contacted Paul Smith via phone as he wanted to let Paul know personally of his disapproval of the situation. 

I feel strongly that we have a good dialog with the Police department right now. This is essential to getting the information and answers HNA needs to build a working relationship with the police. We need to be aware of closing that door with accusations and negativity.  If someone wants to work with me to have more first hand and direct information I welcome the help.  I am by no means intending to do this alone if others want to help. 

Trey Commander 
3617 Lerch Street 

On Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 4:06 PM, < robinflores @comcast.net > wrote: 

The cops have begun what I was fearful of......they are writing tickets to residents of Brainerd , one was a truck w/ its right side tires on the pavement of the trafficway . 

The impression is this.....Randy Dunn et al determined: "if they want police presence, we'll give them police presence." 

"We'll show them..,...."  etc  etc.... 

Makes me wish  my former chief of police and employer, Reuben M. Greenberg of the Charleston SC police department were out of retirement and here. 

He taught us proactive policing, such as traffic stops of cars, field interview and field observation cards, slow speed partols , etc 

that created the force multiplier of his visibility w/o hammering the residents. Police are the gatekeepers of the criminal justice system with wide discretion, and NOT an occupying army. 

I have seen this behavior reflected in the poorer sections of town. 

If this department can't police, then the new mayor should find a chief that can make it one, and one that does not abuse and harm people. 

I have litigated against the abuses of certain members of this department, and have earned the disdain of certain department members. 

In 2003, just as I was called up for active duty for the start of the Iraq war, I had a CPD officer, Sgt Eddie Chamberlain, take my congratulations on his promotion, and say that I threatened to shoot him. This, after he berated me for filing a lawsuit in the wrongful death of Torris Harris at the hands of police in 2001. 

When I returned from active duty, and back to my law practice, I learned Mr. Chamberlain was disciplined for a driving incident, and current Asst. Chief Rawlston (then IAU commander) wanted Chamberlain fired. Jimmie Dotson declined to fire him. 

If you wish to see some of the mentality of local police, check out "scenic city online ." Go to the "police blotter," and see what these people say about you, the public. " Longshot the Sane-jack's lack of surprise" is Joel Craig, a CPD sgt , and " CrashFX " is Mark Kimsey , a HCSO sgt . 

Makes you think this department and SOME of its officers are here for themselves, and not for the public. 

Robin Ruben Flores 
Attorney-at-Law 
TENN. BPR #20751 
GA. STATE BAR #200745 
4110-A Brainerd Road 
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37411 
423.267.1575 

We are required by IRS Circular 230 to inform you that any statements contained herein are not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by you or any other taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by federal tax law. 

_ _______________________________________________ _________________________ 

The information contained in this message (including attachments) is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this message in error, do not copy, distribute, or use the information. Please contact the sender immediately by telephone or email and delete the original message. 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: MCNEWAPPRAISALS @comcast.net 
To: robinflores @comcast.net 
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 3:44:33 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Fwd: [ HNA News] police retaliation 

----- Forwarded Message ----- 
From: "Leslie Smith" < lsmith @ heronco .com > 

To: "Hilltop Neighborhood Association" < hnanews @ hilltopneighborhood .org >, littlefield @mail. chattanooga .gov , " dunn r" < dunn _r at mail. chattanooga .gov >, " berz c" < berz _c at mail. chattanooga .gov > 
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 2:12:10 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: [ HNA News] police retaliation 

Neighbors, 

It seems that the increased police presence we have requested is going to come at a price.  We are so unbelievably angry that we are almost beyond words ... Paul got a parking ticket this morning parked in the PAVED PULLOFF IN OUR FRONT YARD. The ticket from Officer Beavers stated that the truck was "obstructing the flow of traffic." (Last time we checked, "traffic" doesn't flow through our front yard.)    

Mayor Littlefield , Lt. Dunn, and Councilwoman Berz , I cannot see how a police department that doesn't have enough time to spend patrolling our neighborhood can justify spending a rainy Saturday morning writing parking tickets on neighborhood streets. If the officer honestly believes this a safety issue - which it isn't, as the photos I've attached show - at the least a warning should have been given. This pulloff was here when we bought our house over five years ago, and we have never been told that we cannot park in it. 

I cannot see this as anything other than retaliation for the negative publicity our neighborhood has brought to the police department over the past week. Yes, parking tickets are minor - it will cost $11 -  but this kind of vindictiveness is completely unnecessary and does nothing to build cooperation between our residents and the police department. 

Leslie & Paul Smith 
Monte Vista 

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