Chief David Roddy 

  • Chief of Police (Ret.)

  • Co-Founder of Foundational Leadership for LEO’s

  • Leadership Specialist

  • Certified ACE's Trainer

  • Dare to Lead​™ Trained

  • Chattanooga, TN

Police Chief David Roddy retired with over 26 years of service with the Chattanooga Police Department. David is a native of Chattanooga and after graduating from Tyner High School, he obtained his Bachelor’s of Science at Middle Tennessee State University. Chief Roddy then returned to his hometown to begin his career as a police officer. 

During his time at the Chattanooga Police Department he has served as Acting Chief, Chief of Staff, Captain– Internal Affairs Division Commander, Captain– Uniformed Services Patrol Sector 3, and Captain/Lieutenant– Special Operations Division Commander/SWAT Commander. He has served in patrol, narcotics, and gang investigations as well as serving more than 14 years on the department’s SWAT Team. These experiences as a leader have helped to provide a broad base of departmental expertise. 

Chief Roddy’s been instrumental in the implementation of the Enhancement Law Enforcement Response to Victims (ELERV) Grant awarded to CPD in October 2015. Because of his work with the ELERV Grant and his tremendous support of victims, Chief Roddy was nominated to join the IACP’s Victim Services Committee in the Spring of 2017. In the Spring of 2018, Chief Roddy was nominated to serve on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) National Crime Gun Intelligence Governing Board. This national board oversees and advises on the collection, management, and analysis of crime gun evidence for the purpose of identifying shooters, disrupting criminal activity, and preventing future violence in Chattanooga and other communities across the United States. Chief Roddy is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Session 235 and the National Executive Institute Session XLI. 

Throughout his career, Chief Roddy has worked to support kids in the community who could benefit from assistance outside their immediate family structure. Chief Roddy has done this through the Chattanooga YCAP program, serving as a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Chattanooga, becoming a big brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bigs in Blue program, and creating the opportunity for other CPD Officers to do the same. Chief Roddy has also implemented the Handle with Care program in which CPD Officers work with school administrators and teachers to support kids who may be impacted by violence or trauma. Chief Roddy is also a certified Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) trainer. In that role, he trains others on how to effectively address the issue of the adverse impact of childhood trauma on our youth and, later in life, on adults. 

Chief David Roddy and his wife Shannon have been married for more than 20 years. They have two daughters. Chief Roddy serves as law enforcement and leadership consultant, speaker, and advisor who is Dare to Lead™ Trained and the co-founder of the Foundation Leadership for Law Enforcement Officers program.

Chief Roddy’s “Foundational Leadership Why”: I believe one of the most critical skills needed in law enforcement is the ability to engage. And to do so with an awareness of yourself and the tools to do so constructively is invaluable.