Deputy charged with rape may have more victims, accuser's attorneys say


By Dan Kennedy,

The Hamilton County sheriff's deputy fired for allegedly raping a woman while on patrol may have had more victims.
Attorneys for the first alleged victim said Tuesday they're looking for at least one more woman to come forward.
"What makes this case so egregious is that Officer Greer is charged with protecting the community," said Attorney Bill Speek. "What he did on that day and what we suspect he's done previous times is take advantage of the very people he's charged with protecting."

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Attorney Bill Speek represents the woman who said Deputy Willie Greer pulled her over for speeding, handcuffed her, and forced her to perform a sex act.
According to the affidavit, Greer admitted the incident happened but called the act "consensual." Greer was charged with official misconduct and aggravated rape, and fired from his job.
Speek said there's evidence of least one more victim from January 5 and that new information now has multiple agencies investigating. But Greer has not been charged in that.
"We know on the same day there was one, we're looking to learn more information on if there was more in the previous days," Speek said. "What you won't have access to are some of the confidential files that exist for police officers, we're looking into those right now. We have some information that indicates his record is not as clean as you may otherwise think."
"What we're asking for is that any other victim of Officer Greer that day come forward, contact our office, contact Chattanooga police, contact the FBI, but come forward so we can help put behind bars somebody who has taken an oath to protect our citizens but has also abused them in the process."
In January, Sheriff Jim Hammond said Greer had no previous problems. He had been with the county for three months. Our partners at The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported in January he previously worked as a campus officer at Chattanooga State.
"The vetting process was normal, there was nothing to indicate this behavior might happen," Sheriff Hammond said in January. "There's no reason to believe this would occur."
In court Tuesday, Greer told Judge Lila Statom he's hired a new attorney, Johnny D. Houston, Jr. Judge Statom pushed his hearing back to May 13 but warned Greer to be ready come that date. Tuesday was not the first time his hearing has been passed to a new date.
"But you need to do your best to have him hired by this date because that would be a long time that you would be out on bond," the judge told Greer.

Houston had no comment on his new client's behalf Tuesday. Channel 3 will be back in court May 13 for Greer's next scheduled hearing.