More than a dozen Black faith leaders stood in front of District Attorney Coty Wamp's office Monday to protest the "unjust and politically motivated" indictment of former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy, even though Wamp is not the one prosecuting Murphy.
Wamp stood in the same spot immediately after and called the appearance race-baiting.
"These allegations are just that — allegations," the Rev. Ernest Reid of Second Missionary Baptist Church said at a news conference. "In our legal system, one is innocent until proven guilty. This attempt to discredit an African American woman in leadership reeks of petty partisan politics with dangerous outcomes if applied uniformly."
Murphy last week was indicted on 17 criminal charges, including perjury, official misconduct, illegal voter registration and falsely filling out official documents. She turned herself in Thursday at the Hamilton County Jail, a day after resigning. She was released on bond.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported in March that Murphy's Tennessee voter registration conflicted with a property tax exemption Murphy receives in Fulton County, Georgia, by claiming a home there as her primary residence. Both documents were signed under penalty of perjury.
But Reid touted a 90% homicide closure rate under Murphy's leadership, which he said far surpasses the national average. She has also helped reform department procedures, strengthened community partnerships and enhanced the effectiveness and accountability of the organization, he said.
(READ MORE: Former Chattanooga police chief indicted for forgery, perjury and more)
"Chief Murphy has led with integrity and honor, even under unfair constant personal attacks," Reid said. "She has challenged the status quo, advocating for a fair and impartial environment. Her commitment to high standards, independent thinking and community engagement has made a tangible positive difference."
Murphy, 56, faced resistance and hostility from some people almost immediately after her appointment in 2022, Reid said.
Reid compared the circumstances of Murphy's departure to RaShall Brackney, the former police chief in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Keechant Sewell, the former commissioner of the New York City Police Department.
Brackney was fired in 2021 after three years of service. She later sued the city for wrongful termination, although her lawsuit was dismissed after a federal judge said she didn't have sufficient evidence of discrimination, conspiracy or malice, according to The Associated Press.
Sewell resigned from the NYPD in June 2023 after 18 months on the job. She was the first woman to serve as the New York City police commissioner. In November, the New York Mets hired her to act as the team's senior vice president of security and guest experience.
"For historically marginalized groups, enacting change in biased organizations is immensely difficult," Reid said. "From Day 1, Chief Murphy was not given the fair chance afforded to her predecessors. Our silence today would mean complicity. Although many in the community are afraid to speak out, they call on us as ministry leaders, and therefore together we stand with Chief Celeste Murphy, raising our voices in her defense."
Reid and his fellow clergy had two requests.
First, Murphy should receive the full payout of her contract, with Reid adding that citizens should call their city council representatives to make that request. Murphy's contract was renewed for another year in March, and her annual salary is $177,700. Murphy is set to receive less than that, a 90-day severance, which equates to about $44,000.
Second, Reid urged local legislators to present legislation that would limit the disclosure of addresses and other personal information that could put "key city and county officials and leaders at risk." Murphy has argued disclosing her home address publicly places her in danger. Voter registration forms are a matter of public record.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation began an investigation into Murphy in April after members of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference filed a complaint of official misconduct. Wamp has said her office was not involved in making the complaint. Murphy's case will be handled by a prosecutor from outside the county after Wamp recused herself, according to the TBI.
WAMP'S RESPONSE
After the faith leaders spoke, Wamp took about six minutes to address those gathered outside her office.
"When you do the right thing as the district attorney, and you take it completely out of your hands, you send it to a different agency outside of Hamilton County, who then request a formal TBI investigation, it doesn't matter because opportunists don't care about facts," Wamp said. "I cannot and will not comment on Chief Murphy's investigation or indictment because I do not know anything about it other than what I've read in the news media."
Wamp said she didn't hear beforehand from any of the participants in the news conference Monday.
"I haven't got a text message," she said. "I haven't got a phone call. They haven't shown up at my office before today. Several of them have my phone number. I haven't gotten a request from the city's administration because I guess that's not as fun as appearing on these news cameras."
Last year, Wamp said, 77% of homicides in Chattanooga claimed the lives of Black men, women and children.
"Of all of those that were cleared, which we know that rate is high, every single one was a Black perpetrator," she said. "I don't recall a press conference speaking out against those killers. I don't recall a press conference where you stand up and are the voice of victims. Maybe I wasn't invited to that one."
Wamp said the group had been meeting with Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, who she claimed encouraged them to be there Monday. The mayor's office later denied that.
"If he has something to say to me, he can come down here and say it," Wamp said. "When this group of people begins to take care of their community and love on their community so that we see a decrease in violent crime, I will begin to respect them. Until then, do not come down to this courthouse and race bait. This is not about race."
(READ MORE: Chattanooga police chief resigns while under state investigation)
Wamp's comments prompted shocked "wows" and protests from faith leaders watching. Reid declined to comment specifically on Wamp's remarks. Kelly's spokesperson, Eric Holl, said Wamp is incorrect and off base.
"Though Mayor Kelly did meet last week with some members of the faith community, he had absolutely nothing to do with today's press conference, a fact that any of them could verify," Holl said in a statement. "We are focused solely on supporting CPD in their mission to keep Chattanooga safe and finding our next police chief. If the mayor has something to discuss with District Attorney Wamp, he will reach out to her directly."
Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.