Two Chattanooga police officers fired for using excessive force

photo Officer Adam Cooley, from left, Officer Sean Emmer Chattanooga Police Department
photo Adam Tatum

Two Chattanooga police officers have been fired after using excessive force while arresting a 36-year-old federal inmate in June.

Officers Sean Emmer and Adam Cooley were both terminated after a disciplinary hearing Wednesday, said Chattanooga Police Chief Bobby Dodd.

The case remains open after one of the officers made a new allegation involving another officers during the hearing. Investigators will now have to look into the accusation, Dodd said.

Since the June 14 arrest of Adam Tatum at the Salvation Army on McCallie Avenue, both Emmer and Cooley were placed on special assignment conducting non-law enforcement activities.

Tatum was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, two counts of aggravated assault on police and possession of marijuana.

The former officers were fired after investigators watched video footage of the arrest. Dodd contacted the FBI to review the case for possible civil rights violations and criminal charges.

Federal authorities are still investigating the incident.

For more details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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