Frazier

The fourth estate received a public rebuke concealed in a not so veiled threat issued by Freeman Cooper, the Chief of Police, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

It could have been a undesirable April Fools joke but for the truth that it was a day late and not at all funny. It all happened at a hastily named news conference late morning, Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008, exactly where Chattanooga Police Chief Freeman Cooper asked the media to stop asking queries about issue officer Chattanooga Police Captain Jeannie Snyder.

Cooper went on to concern a veiled threat to the media for doing its job by saying the investigation into the female police captain was "bordering on harassment".

He continued, "She is a police officer in great standing and that implies that she can be armed at anytime with any weapon, it does not have to be the police department's gun." Snyder who had already voluntarily stepped down as an assistant police chief taking a Ten Thousand Dollar pay cut in November, 2007, also voluntarily turned in her city issued weapon last week citing public concern over her becoming armed. The Chattanoogan reported, nonetheless, that she was nonetheless carrying her individual firearm. That is just one of the exceptions the city seems to have produced for Captain Snyder when their internal rules and regulations says each officer is issued a service weapon and need to carry that weapon when on duty.

Chattanooga City Councilman Leamon Pierce is one of the few apparently not afraid to speak up and query Snyder or the Chief. Pierce opined, "You got to deal with what the perception is, she has a dilemma no doubt it's a health-related difficulty. I wouldn't want to be around her, in her presence when she has an additional reaction."

He went on to say what some officers have intimated to the Tennessee Mountain Man - that some of her fellow police officers are leary and fearful of her.

There are these current and retired police officers who inform the Tennessee Mountain Man that they have good cause to walk lightly about Captain Snyder. They keep that Cooper had small decision but to appoint her an assistant police chief and now has no decision but to defend and shield her to the greatest of his ability. escort

Names the Tennessee Mountain Man has not heard in legal and law enforcement circles in 20 years are popping up once more. Names like Ralph Cothran, Al Coker, Johnny Wright, and other folks - even a former madam and drug dealer are surfacing and fueling the rumor mill.

Chief Cooper challenged the press at his news conference, "Inform me one thing she's done wrong? You cannot simply because she hasn't." He continued, "She hasn't harmed any person, threatened to harm anybody, or put anybody in any kind of danger."

According to public records, it all began in January of 2007 when Snyder was discovered unconscious in her Red Bank (A Chattanooga Bedroom Neighborhood) house right after she failed to show up for an appointment. She was "sick", i.e. "passed out" and had to be hospitalized. Drawing on his experience and profession as a former intelligence operative, CID Agent, and civilian police officer the Computer Man suspects the roots of Captain Snyder's issues run a lot deeper and farther into the previous.

In September, 2007, she did not show up for perform which sparked a search in Marion County, Tennessee. When ultimately identified after costing the city, the state and two counties untold thousands of dollars, she was "sick" and had to be hospitalized.

A handful of weeks ago Snyder appeared to be beneath the influence of alcohol and drugs at the Town Center Mall, in Cobb County, Georgia at three p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008 according to an incident report from the Cobb County Division of Public Security where she produced a weapon when an officer asked for some identification. A confrontation ensued. Captain Snyder was "sick" once more. An ambulance had to be summoned with many Chattanooga Police Staff to escort her back to Chattanooga, and, of course, when again she essential hospital care prior to returning to duty.

A recurring theme from police officers is that "I am a man". "I can not sleep my way to the prime." Which prompted City Councilman Manny Rico to issue a counter comment to Councilman Pierce, according to Abena Williams, Reporter, WDEF-Tv, Chattanooga, TN, "I've talked to other folks that are not (fearful of Snyder), you hear each sides, police people are extremely funny I am positive there are a lot of them that didn't get the promotion they should have got."

The former madam perused this story over a snifter of brandy, then handing it back with a slight smile, said, "new paint, new lipstick, new gloss. Practically nothing ever modifications, child. Amongst her and the sheriff there are a lot of critical people shaking in their boots tonight."

Some think it is time for a great home cleaning at the Chattanooga Police Department, and that this could be the greatest point considering that Bookie Turner. Another story... One more time.

In the mean time, the query remains no matter whether the local press will bow in worry or deference to Chief Cooper?