Trial Date Set for Former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy Facing 17 Charges

Celeste Murphy, the former Chattanooga Police Chief, faces 17 felony and misdemeanor charges, including forgery and perjury. A trial date is set for January 20, 2025, after she pleaded not guilty to all counts. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation initiated an inquiry into her residency in April 2024, uncovering that she knowingly submitted false information on several government documents. Judge Boyd Patterson mentioned that an outside jury may be used for the trial proceedings. Murphy resigned from her chief position on June 26, 2024, just one day prior to the indictment by the Hamilton County Grand Jury.

The charges include illegal voter registration and official misconduct, highlighting serious allegations against a former law enforcement leader. This case raises critical questions about accountability and transparency in local government. Murphy had been appointed by Mayor Tim Kelly in 2022, making her swift resignation and subsequent charges particularly notable.