Council debates ordinance on reporting threats of mass violence; staff to add ‘notify emergency personnel’ language

The Chattanooga City Council debated an ordinance on Jan. 7 that would require anyone with knowledge of a threat of mass violence on city-owned property to report it promptly and to whom.

Council members raised practical questions about whom a member of the public should contact when they learn of a threat — whether the requirement to notify the mayor or a department head is realistic — and asked legal staff to revise the wording to make contacting emergency personnel the clear first step.

Why it matters: The proposed change affects how the public and city employees would be expected to respond to threats on city property, and it creates obligations for city departments to develop procedures to protect employees and visitors. Council members said clarity is essential because the ordinance carries potential penalties for noncompliance.

City legal staff proposed language to narrow Section C1 to require that “any person who has knowledge of a threat of mass violence on city-owned property or city property-related activity shall report the threat immediately to notify emergency personnel with jurisdiction in the city.” That wording was presented in the meeting as a near-final alternate and won support from several council members who said the public must be given a simple, actionable instruction such as call 911.

Councilwoman Kathleen Noel and others pressed for additional steps addressing community centers specifically, noting that children and center managers are often first to witness concerning statements or behavior. City staff told the council that community-center managers and directors have received additional training, including HR-led trainings and sessions coordinated with Hamilton County Schools on mass-violence response. The parks and recreation director said the network held cabinet meetings that include community center managers and that staff will convene a separate meeting of all community-center managers as requested by council members.

Council members also raised employee-protection concerns: several council members asked that policies be developed to protect staff who intervene in violent incidents so those employees are not disciplined for taking action to protect others. City staff said the ordinance already includes a provision directing city departments to develop policies and procedures to report and resolve violence and credible threats to employee safety on city property; council members urged those policies be explicit about protections for employees.

Chief Freeman (Chattanooga Police Department) told the council he would schedule the requested meeting with community-center managers “ASAP” and that centers should continue to call 911 in an active threat. City administrative staff said they will provide a revised draft of the ordinance language for the council to consider that replaces or supplements references to contacting a mayoral or department direct line with “notify emergency personnel” or 911 as the immediate action.

Several council members said they wanted clear, simple instructions in the ordinance so members of the public — including children — know what to do when they encounter threats or violent behavior. Council members asked that the revised language also preserve a separate, narrower set of requirements that reflect the original community-center-focused drafting, so that community centers receive tailored guidance where appropriate.

What’s next: The city attorney agreed to prepare an alternative version of Section C1 that explicitly requires notification of emergency personnel with jurisdiction in the city; council staff and department directors will then return with proposed implementing policies and will convene a meeting of community-center managers to review procedures and protections.

Ending: Council members deferred any final action on the ordinance pending the revised draft and said they expect to review the implementing policies that city departments will develop to protect staff and the public.