A local Fraternal Order of Police lodge this month honored two attorneys for their efforts to protect the employment rights of its members, many of who work for the Chattanooga Police Department.
Rock City Lodge No. 22 made Janie Parks Varnell an honorary member Jan. 16 for her efforts since 2013 to represent police officers in proceedings concerning officer-involved shootings, other internal investigations, civil lawsuits and more.
The lodge also presented Logan Davis with an award of appreciation for the legal counsel she provided in 2022, when she assisted Varnell with the reinstatement of nine officers who’d been removed from duty.
“[Janie and Logan] represented our membership very well over the last year,” says CPD officer and Rock City Lodge president Sgt. Chris Mullinix. “They went out of their way to provide our members with the best possible legal defense, which was critical for our organization.”
Varnell says becoming an honorary member of the lodge was “the most monumental moment of [her] career” to date, while Davis says her award is “a huge honor.”
Varnell grew up watching her father, retired Chattanooga Police Chief Steve Parks, lead local police officers in their efforts to serve the public.
Logan Davis has spent her early years looking up to her father, renowned criminal defense lawyer Lee Davis.
Now both Varnell and Logan Davis are carving legacies of their own as criminal defense practitioners at Davis & Hoss, the firm Lee Davis founded with attorney Bryan Hoss.
Davis & Hoss has been representing the officers of the FOP and the Southern States Police Benevolent Association since 1998, when Lee Davis left the Hamilton County District Attorney’s office and opened a private law practice.
Lee Davis says his interest stemmed in part from the relationships he formed as a prosecutor, as well as how much he valued and respected the officers.
“I wanted to provide the best legal services possible, as they deserve it.”
Varnell began assisting with the firm’s FOP and PBA work after graduating from John Marshall Law School and setting up her own practice at Davis & Hoss. She says the work has been tremendously rewarding.
“Law enforcement can be a thankless job, and while officers do make mistakes, I’ve always enjoyed making sure they know someone has their back and will advocate for them as the law allows.”
Logan Davis echoes Parks, saying she loves the work she’s able to do for the FOP.
“Being able to help police officers and seeing a side of things the general public probably doesn’t is a terrific area of practice.”
The FOP is the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 356,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges.
According to the organization’s website (fop.net), it endeavors to improve the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of the communities the officers serve through education, legislation, community involvement and employee representation.
Lee Davis says he’s proud of the combined efforts of his office. “Janie has an incredible understanding of this area of the law and we’re very proud of her and of our long-standing commitment to representing local law enforcement these last 25 years.”