On Thursday afternoon, the Scenic Chattanooga Optimist Club awarded the 2022 Respect for Law – Officer of the Year award to Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond for his many dedicated years of service to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Hamilton County.
The Respect for Law Officer of the Year Award has its roots in a program started in 1965 when former FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover and International Optimist Club Past International President, Carl Bowen, created the Respect for Law Community Program. The program was adopted locally because of the club’s belief that it is important for our community to recognize the many positive attributes of local law enforcement personnel who serve and protect the citizens of Chattanooga and Hamilton County. Currently, more than 1,500 Optimist Clubs participate each year in recognizing local law enforcement officers who go above and beyond the call of duty.
“For over twenty-four years our Optimist Club has participated in the Optimist International Respect for Law Program,” said Ed Colucci, President of the Scenic Chattanooga Optimist Club stated. “As a community, we are deeply indebted to those who choose a career of service in law enforcement. These men and women serve as the frontline of protection for all of us, and we are proud to honor them.”
Throughout his illustrious career, including his time in the Juvenile Justice System, the United States Navy, and the U.S. Department of Justice training law enforcement personnel throughout the world, Sheriff Hammond has remained a continual pillar of moral and ethical values, never wavering from his duty and respect for our community’s law enforcement personnel and first responders.
“It has been my honor and privilege to serve as Chairman of the Respect for Law Program for the past 21 years,” Gary D. Behler, Hamilton County Juvenile Court Clerk and Chairman of the Scenic Chattanooga Optimist Club Respect for Law Program said. “As a longtime friend of Sheriff Jim Hammond, I can think of no one more deserving in our law enforcement community of this award nor more dedicated to our men and women of law enforcement than him. Every citizen of our community owes Sheriff Hammond a tremendous debt of gratitude for the service he and his personnel provide for this county on a daily basis.”
