Former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy Indicted on 17 Charges

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says former Chattanooga Chief of Police Celeste Murphy faces 17 counts of felony and misdemeanor criminal charges.

Celeste Murphy

On Thursday morning, Murphy surrendered at the Hamilton County Jail where she was booked and released on a $19,000 bond.

On Tuesday, a Hamilton County Grand Jury indicted Murphy on the following charges:

• 1 count of Illegal Voter Registration
• 1 count of False Entries on Official Registration or Election Documents
• 3 counts of False Entries in Governmental Records
• 3 counts of Forgery
• 3 counts of Perjury
• 6 counts of Official Misconduct

During the TBI’s investigation into her residency, agents determined that Murphy knowingly entered false information on documents related to her residency in Chattanooga while she swore to the truth.

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Questions have surrounded Murphy’s tenure in Chattanooga, from her city of residency and the Brady letters, which prompted the reassignment of 15 CPD officers, and was later overturned.

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Before coming to Chattanooga, Murphy served in the Atlanta Police Department, starting as a patrol officer and rising to Deputy Chief before her move to the Scenic City.