CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Representatives from the Chattanooga Police
Department (CPD) and the City's Office of Community Safety & Gun Violence
Prevention were invited to present at the National Case Closed Project
(NCCP) Convening in Raleigh, North Carolina earlier this week. The Bureau
of Justice Assistance (BJA) along with RTI International extended the
invitation in recognition of Chattanooga's multifaceted approach to solving
violent crimes, which has a clearance rate 18% higher than the national
average.
In 2023, Chattanooga’s clearance rate for severe violent crimes, including
homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault was 59%, compared to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported national average of 41%. The
2024 clearance rate for Chattanooga stands at 54%. National data is not yet
available for last year.
The three Chattanooga invitees participated in separate panels, each
highlighting how their work, along with that of their teams and
departments, not only contributes to higher clearance rates but also
supports crime victims, and improves the relationship between community
members and law enforcement.
Sgt. Josh May, the nation’s only active sworn subject matter expert in
Crime Gun Intelligence, represented CPD on a panel discussing the use of
technology in investigating shootings. Sgt. May highlighted strategies and
technologies CPD has implemented to improve the department’s response to
shootings including the formation of the CPD Gun Team in June, 2017,
becoming one of the leading NIBIN-centric units in the country, and
designation as a top three Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in the U.S.
Director Hannah Walling, head of CPD’s Victim Services Unit (VSU), shared
insights into the importance of victim support in solving violent crimes.
Walling detailed how CPD’s victim services specialists provide services
such as safety planning, court accompaniment, and social service referrals
to help victims and their families navigate the aftermath of crime.
Troy Rogers, City of Chattanooga Public Safety Coordinator rounded out
Chattanooga’s representation at the NCCP convening. He was one of three
individuals on the police-community engagement panel. During his session,
Rogers highlighted the City’s successful initiatives aimed at building
trust with young people and providing alternatives to violence. These
initiatives include community canvassing to make direct, in-person
connections, weekly basketball nights, mentorship programs, job fairs for
returning talent, and Fist Bump Friday.
The NCCP Convening also offered Chattanooga’s representatives an
opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences, and strategies with
stakeholders from across the country.
