FRIDAY 161st YEAr • NO. 85 AUgUsT 7, 2015 clEVElANd, TN 22 pAgEs • 50¢ Bulletin CPD launches body cameras Two CPD Patrol officers are now video-equipped By TONY EUBANK issue equipment for police forces nationwide dures. officers Banner Staff Writer and have become critical tools for law The cameras were first given to one patrol enforcement, as well as a key device for pro- team for training purposes and over the last Beginning today, all Cleveland Police tecting the civil liberties for the public at day have been distributed to all uniformed placed Department patrol officers will be equipped large. officers, with the exception of School with body cameras. The Cleveland City Council initially began Resource Officers (SROs) who will receive the Banner photos, TONY EUBANK After purchasing the cameras in June and looking at purchasing the equipment in cpd OfficEr Jansen devices at a later date. All CPD vehicles, July, CPD has worked over the past month January. The purchase of body cameras which are accompanied by a body-worn on leave Vassey is shown wearing the to write the policies and procedures for their were later recommended by CPD consultant newly issued WatchGuard Body microphone except for those driven by SROs, By BRIAN GRAVES use along with a training program. Larry Wallace in his June 22 report to the Banner Staff Writer Worn Cameras. Body cameras have become standard- City Council on CPD policies and proce- See CAMERAS, Page 6 Two Cleveland police officers are on administrative leave fol- lowing allegations of a sexual Habitat assault in Sevier County. According to a statement today from the CPD, the Rewards in education department became aware of the involvement of an officer in selects an extramarital affair. Michigan Ave. Arnold earns Interim Chief Mark Gibson met with the gets state’s nod state honors officer and the its new officer’s super- for second year for its gains visors, accord- ing to the CPD By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG By LARRY C. BOWERS statement. Banner Staff Writer Banner Staff Writer director Gibson “Progress” is the way immediately Michigan Avenue Elementary School has been Arnold Memorial Principal launched an Michael Chai described the internal affairs listed among the top schools in ‘Chip’ Willis the state by the Tennessee honor his school received this Nave investigation week as one of Tennessee’s 85 pertaining to Department of Education. Part of the Bradley County Reward Schools. starts Oct. 1 any policy vio- “It’s progress, or growth,” lations that School System, Michigan Avenue was named a Reward said Chai at a Thursday By LARRY C. BOWERS might have morning interview. Banner Staff Writer occurred on School for its academic per- formance for the second year During the 2012-13 school Habitat for Humanity of duty. year, when Chai took over as “During the in a row. Cleveland has reached to the “That takes a lot of hard the school’s new principal, state of Florida to hire a new course of the Arnold Memorial was listed by investigation, work and dedication,” Director executive director. of Schools Dr. Linda Cash said. the Tennessee Department of Habitat’s Board of Directors Walls we became Education as a Focus School. aware of anoth- Being a Reward School met Thursday evening and means the Tennessee “The reason for that listing approved the hire of David S. er officer possibly involved in was the gap between our eco- an extramarital affair, in Department of Education con- “Chip” Willis for sidered Michigan Avenue to be nomically disadvantage stu- this crucial role whom, we are also looking into dents and the non-economi- policy violations,” the state- among the top 5 percent of with the local schools in the state for per- cally disadvantaged students. organization. ment reads. That gap was a huge 44 per- The officers involved are formance and among the top Willis will 10 percent when one considers cent. assume the identified as Carl Walls and “We’d had academic gains, Chad Nave. Both have been both categories measured — director’s posi- performance and progress. but we were 84 percent free tion on Oct. 1. placed on administrative leave and reduced lunch,” the pending the outcome of the The state department meas- Following an ures a school’s success annu- school administrator added. extensive search investigation. Arnold Memorial stepped Willis “The female that Walls was ally by how its students do on and interview their TCAP test scores in a up to erase the Focus School process, directed by Board involved with went to title the next year. SkyRidge Medical Center’s given year, with the 2015 list Secretary Bernadette Douglas, being based on the 2014-15 “What we did,” said Chai, the job offer was extended to emergency room early this “was to focus on our entire morning [Friday], Aug. 7, year’s scores. According to the Willis. department, that measurement student body. We now have Habitat Board President Jeff 2015, and filed a miscella- Banner photo, lArrY c. BOWErs intervention programs to focus neous report alleging that a is “calculated by adding MicHAEl cHAi, principal of Cleveland’s award-winning Arnold Morelock said today that the together the total number of on students who need to selection of Willis was not an sexual assault happened in Memorial School, is shown on the steps at the entrance to the improve. We provide extra Sevier County this past week- school. Arnold has been selected as a Tennessee Reward School, easy task. end,” the statement reads. “At See MICHIGAN AVE., Page 7 after being in the state’s lower 10 percent only three years ago. See ARNOLD, Page 7 “We had some very good candi- dates,” Morelock said of the search. “We’re excited by the new See OFFICERS, Page 7 hire, and we’re looking forward to working with Chip.” Industrial Willis, contacted this morning Forecast in Sarasota, said he and his wife, Tricia, are also excited. A 10 percent chance of showers park keeps The couple has lived in the and thunderstorms are predicted Sarasota community for some for early today, but will be followed time, but he is a graduate of the progressing University of Tennessee. Both by sunny skies and cooler tempera- have strong ties to Southeast and tures. High should be only about 84 By BRIAN GRAVES with west winds at 5 to 10 mph. Banner Staff Writer See HABITAT, Page 6 Tonight, skies will be partly The Cleveland/Bradley County cloudy with a low around 68 and a area is seeing continuous growth north wind at 5 mph. as plans to prepare a new indus- Brewer is trial park to help sustain and Index build on that growth is pressing forward. added to Church........................................8-9 Doug Berry, Classified................................20-21 Cleveland/Bradley County TBI’s Most Comics.........................................17 Chamber of Commerce vice pres- Editorials......................................16 ident for economic development, gave that report to the Economic Wanted List Horoscope....................................17 Development Council on Movies..........................................18 Thursday. Obituaries.......................................2 Berry told the Council existing Trucker indicted Stocks............................................4 industry expansion activity con- contributed photo Sports......................................13-15 tinues to outpace new inquiries. A MArKET fEAsiBiliTY sTUdY for a downtown hotel/conference center recommends using the Old earlier this week Woolen Mill as the anchor for such a facility, citing the trend of major hotel chains using iconic structures TV Schedule...........................18-19 “Our staff has worked directly By TONY EUBANK Weather........................................11 with eight industries on potential of that type. In this photo submitted by the city of Cleveland, this small puffy cloud appears as smoke coming from the Old Woolen Mill’s turret. Perhaps it is signaling a new beginning for the old manufactur- Banner Staff Writer See INDUSTRIAL, Page 6 ing facility. Benjamin Scott Brewer, the Around Town driver of a tractor-trailer rig Nancy Neal preparing to show involved in the June 26 crash on yet another side of her profes- Interstate 75 that killed six peo- sional self, as a public speaker ... Hearing is delayed for ple, has been added to the RaSharon King graciously shar- Tennessee Bureau of ing some information that is both Investigations Top 10 Most historic and contemporary in its uncooperative Abbott Wanted List. tone ... Tacia Green offering Brewer was some perspective on a recent By TONY EUBANK indicted by a visit to participate in a humanitar- Banner Staff Writer Hamilton County ian effort ... Melody Smith walk- Grand Jury earli- ing laps with her Fitbit ... Doug Donald Lee Abbott, who is facing first-degree murder charges in er this week on a and Marsha Hudson impatiently the shooting death of Cleveland restaurant owner Marla Sharp, long list of received a hearing postponement Thursday to allow time for a psy- charges includ- awaiting the arrival of their first Brewer grandbaby ... Stan Sherlin finally chological evaluation. ing six counts of graduating... Principal Todd Scheduled to appear before Bradley County General Sessions vehicular homicide, four counts Shoemaker making one teacher's Court Judge Sheridan Randolph, Abbott’s court date was delayed of reckless aggravated assault, Banner photo, TONY EUBANK after he reportedly refused to communicate with his court-appoint- one count of DUI by impairment job that much easier with the pur- MUrdEr sUspEcT dONAld lEE ABBOTT is seen as he chase of a new whiteboard. ed attorney. of narcotics, one count of speed- appeared during his arraignment last week in General Sessions Abbott’s courtroom behavior has already been erratic, including ing and one count of False Court. Abbott did not appear as scheduled during Thursday’s court last week’s open hostility toward Randolph during his arraignment. Report of Duty Status.