What is Mayor Littlefield’s Agenda?
An Open Letter to Chattanooga Citizens
As officers sworn to protect and defend the citizens of Chattanooga, it is incumbent on us to openly express to our fellow citizens our concerns over the policies, statements and questionable agenda of the Littlefield administration concerning the Chattanooga Police Department.
For some time now many of Mayor Littlefield’s decisions and policies have served to create a citywide sense of turmoil, confusion, divisiveness and frustration by a preponderance of citizens.
From the 15,000 citizens who in August 2010 signed the Petition calling for the recall of Mayor Littlefield to the near unanimous protest this last month by the 400+ Chattanooga police officers over the mayor’s elimination of the take-home car program, it is clear to us that Mayor Littlefield has, at best, failed to adequately communicate his policies to the people, and at worst, the mayor has shown little regard for not only his constituents but also his own police department.
In business, when the CEO of an enterprise turns a deaf ear to his employees, it should come as no surprise when employee morale and retention suffer. Likewise, while our commitment to the mission of the Chattanooga Police Department remains unwavering, there is no doubt that the morale of our officers has suffered resulting in it being difficult to retain and/or fill CPD positions.
For this reason, we are taking this unprecedented step to communicate directly with those we are sworn to protect, you, the citizens of Chattanooga. We believe that as we highlight just a few of the decisions and policies by Mayor Littlefield over the last several years, it will cause many to ask the question, “Just what is the Mayor’s true Agenda?”
- 2007: Hiring and pay raise freeze (resulted in no increases in 4 years)
- This comes after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a pay study and implementing a career development program
- 2008 – 2009: No police academies (CPD is 65 officers below the required number; as a result the CPD cannot adequately perform its duties)
- 2009: Mayor Littlefield’s attempt to eliminate the CPD’s pension fails.
- 2010: Closing of precinct sub-stations (this has served to reduce efficiency and officer visibility in neighborhoods)
- 2010: Mayor Littlefield is forced, by threat of Federal lawsuit, to adjust police salaries – only supervisory
- 2010: Mayor Littlefield reduced the insurance benefits for the CPD.
- January 2011: Mayor Littlefield eliminated the CPD’s “Take-Home-Car Program” (results in significant negative implications for the safety and security of Chattanooga citizens)
- January 2011: Mayor Littlefield proposed to eliminate City Court (a portion of traffic fines generate revenue for the police and fire pension fund)
- 2010: Mayor Littlefield claimed that a “cost of living adjustment” (COLA) is really a pay raise.
Moreover, the citizens of Chattanooga had to endure a property tax increase and expensive storm water fees. All the while, the budget for 2010 was larger than previous years. Where has that money gone?
Given Mayor Littlefield’s open desire to consolidate city and county governments before the end of his term in 2013, it is apparent that his policies and decisions which contradict the opinion of the majority has further served to weaken the CPD capabilities and advance the mayor’s consolidation goals.
Could there be other reasons for the mayor’s assault and apparent animosity towards his own employees? We cannot answer this question but it is one that deserves to be asked.
Citizens of Chattanooga, we implore you to ask these questions. Call or email your city council person and/or the Mayor’s office and let them know how you feel. This madness must end before we lose our city.