Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond has appointed Austin Garrett to the rank of chief deputy. Chief Deputy Garrett will serve as head of the Command Staff and will serve as the sheriff’s executive administrator responsible for the daily operation of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The chief deputy is also directly responsible for overseeing all law enforcement, corrections, and civilian personnel.
“I want to thank Sheriff Jim Hammond for this opportunity to lead and serve alongside the men and women of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office,” stated Lt.
Garrett. “I look forward to serving the community and being a part of this great law enforcement agency’s future.”
Lt. Garrett is a 25-year veteran of the Chattanooga Police Department and is a POST certified law enforcement officer. His most recent position at the Chattanooga Police Department was lieutenant for Tactical and Traffic Operations. In this most recent role, Lt. Garrett was responsible for managing and leading the operations, planning, and ongoing development for 13 specialized units.
Lt. Garrett holds a bachelor of science from Bethel University and is a recent graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy. He is also a graduate of the Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy in 2012. He is a master mason with the Brainerd Masonic Lodge and a current board member for the Forgotten Child Fund.
“Lt. Austin Garrett will be a strong leadership addition to the ranks of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office as chief deputy,” stated Sheriff Hammond. “Austin will bring a variety of knowledge and expertise as a career law enforcement officer who has served in numerous positions of leadership."
Lt. Garrett will officially assume the role of chief deputy on Feb. 8, 2019.
The position of interim chief deputy is currently being occupied by Bill Johnson, who retired earlier this year from the HCSO as deputy chief of Law Enforcement.
Prior to Interim Chief Deputy Johnson, the position had been occupied by Allen Branum, who retired earlier this year.