For an emergency, call 911. To report a crime or an incident, call police dispatch at (423) 622-1725.
Departments
East Ridge Police Department
A state certified agency of 47 full-time officers and 13 reserve officers, working out of 4214 Ringgold Road.
Where
4214 Ringgold Road
Open
Front office, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hours at Each Counter
Four counters at this department keep four different sets of hours, and one of the things people come for is only available on Wednesday mornings. The City publishes all of it, spread across a single long page. It is gathered here.
Records
Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays
Copies of offense, arrest and crash reports, beer cards, and fingerprint cards. There is a nominal charge for copies and for each fingerprint card. (423) 867-3718
Fingerprint cards
Wednesdays only, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
At the East Ridge Police Service Center.
Property and evidence
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays
Found property with no evidentiary value is held for 60 days before disposal. (423) 486-9157
Detectives
Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(423) 867-4503
The City publishes two different telephone numbers for property and evidence: (423) 486-9157 on the police department's page and (423) 867-9157 in the city directory. Both are reproduced here as published. Call the office at (423) 867-3718 if the first number does not reach anyone.
Command Staff
- Clint UseltonPolice Chief
- Josh CreelAssistant Police Chief
- Steaven RogersAdministrative Lieutenant
- Greg BeckCriminal Investigation Division Lieutenant
- Ashley HewittPatrol Lieutenant
- Matrika SaintaudeAdministrative Assistant(423) 486-9146
Chief Uselton joined the department in 1999 and held the ranks of patrol officer, sergeant, lieutenant, and assistant chief before his current rank. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, class 276, and of Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Development.
Assistant Chief Creel joined the department in 2001 and held the ranks of patrol officer, detective, and lieutenant. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, class 282.
Divisions
The department is made up of patrol, criminal investigations, special operations, warrant, and records divisions, along with the canine unit, the motor squad, crime suppression, and traffic investigation.
Patrol
The largest unit in the department: four patrol teams and a traffic team answering calls for service, running routine patrol, enforcing traffic law, and investigating crashes. Patrol also maintains the reserve officer program.
Reserve officers accompany full-time officers on patrol, assist in preventing and detecting crime, and serve as court officers in East Ridge City Court. They provide security at the Fourth of July celebration and the annual Christmas parade, attend state-approved annual in-service training and monthly reserve training, and volunteer their time.
Criminal Investigation
Detectives take the cases that need special attention or expertise. They are trained in crime scene analysis, child abuse investigation, homicide and narcotics investigation, and interview and interrogation, and they follow up on burglary, robbery, domestic violence, drug crime, and gun crime.
- Greg T. BeckLieutenant
- Robert WadeDetective
- Sinisa StojnicDetective
- William JohnsonDetective
- Garrett HawksDetective
Administrative
Communications, fugitive, records, and property and evidence.
Fugitive
Serves felony and misdemeanor arrest warrants obtained through East Ridge City Court, statewide.
Also criminal summonses and subpoenas, and booking and transport of prisoners to the Hamilton County jail. Sergeant Kris Kimsey.
Records
Enters and maintains upwards of 15,000 reports a year.
Offense reports, arrest reports, crash reports, and traffic citations, and customer service for people requesting copies.
Communications
Dispatches police, fire rescue, and emergency medical calls for the City.
Located on Amnicola Highway under the Hamilton County 911 Communications Center, which consolidates East Ridge, Chattanooga, Red Bank and Signal Mountain police and fire, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department, and Hamilton County Emergency Services.
Property and evidence
Holds items with evidentiary value and items held for safekeeping.
Maintains the chain of custody for court proceedings. Found property with no evidentiary value is held 60 days.
Canine
One officer and canine team, trained in narcotics detection, patrol tactics, and tracking.
Part of the special operations division.
Crime suppression
Works with other units and with federal and state partners on drug and property crime and fugitive apprehension.
Special operations
A fully equipped team drawn from patrol and criminal investigations.
Deployed for a serious confrontation with a violent offender, a high-risk arrest or search warrant, or a barricaded suspect.
Programs You Can Join
Citizens' Police Academy
Open for applications now.
Print the application and the waiver form and mail both to Chief Clint Uselton, East Ridge Police Department, 4214 Ringgold Road, East Ridge, TN 37412.
Community Care
A weekly welfare call for residents over 65, free of charge.
If contact is not made, an officer is dispatched to the residence and the designated emergency contact is notified. Residents over 18 with physical and mental disabilities may also be eligible.
Ride-Along
Ride in a patrol car with an officer on calls, traffic stops, and patrol.
Complete the application, the rules and regulations, and the release and waiver, and email them or drop them off at the department. A criminal background investigation is conducted first. Allow two weeks.
Take Me Home
A voluntary, confidential, free registry for people with disabilities.
A family member or caregiver registers a current photograph, demographic and contact information, so that a first responder meeting someone who may be unable to speak or identify themselves has it. Enrollment is through the Take Me Home website.
Hiring Off-Duty Officers
The department handles requests for off-duty officers through Off Duty Management. Requests go through the Officetrak website, or by telephone at 1 (877) 636-8300, toll free, 24 hours a day.