Chattanooga police offers did double duty as Santa’s helpers when they delivered supplies to the family of a baby whose mother was killed by gunfire. On Sept. 7, 19-year-old Jasmine Akins lost her life on the 1700 block of Market Street, leaving behind her daughter, seven-month-old Journee Akins.
After the girl’s grandmother, Ayesha Pankey, took Akins in, Lt. Eddy Chamberlin of the Chattanooga Police Department organized a drive to meet some of the child’s needs. Nearly two dozen uniformed CPD officers delivered the donations, which included clothes, food, toys, and baby supplies, on Friday, Dec. 19.