Contributed photo _ Left to right: Chief Deputy Spencer Daniels, Deputy Chief Mark Hooper, Sheriff Austin Garrett, and Captain Hank Ritter.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Austin Garrett, members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, elected officials, law enforcement colleagues, and community members throughout our region officially recognized the retirement of Deputy Chief of Law Enforcement, Mark Hooper, after (40) years of service. Also in attendance were former Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond, former Chief Deputy and Interim Sheriff, Allen Branum, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, and numerous HCSO retirees and coworkers.
Promoted to Deputy Chief by Sheriff Austin Garrett in 2024, Chief Hooper has been directly responsible for overseeing all law enforcement services including, but not limited to, the daily operation of Uniformed Services, Investigative Services, Judicial Security Operations, School Resource Deputy Unit and Special Operations.
Deputy Chief Hooper began his career with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in 1985 and since that time, he has served in numerous units and leadership positions including Patrol Deputy, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain of Investigative Services.
Two of Deputy Chief Hooper’s most significant career achievements include his leadership in the creation and expansion of the HCSO’s Crime Intelligence and Analyst Unit (CIAU) and the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Unit in 2016. The latter made the HCSO the second law enforcement agency in Tennessee, after Williamson County, to establish a dedicated UAS program. Additionally, in 2016, he spearheaded the training and deployment of Naloxone to Hamilton County deputies, positioning the HCSO as one of the first agencies in Tennessee to implement this life-saving capability.
“Deputy Chief Mark Hooper has earned a well-deserved reputation as a dedicated and highly respected law enforcement professional in Hamilton County and throughout our region,” said Sheriff Austin Garrett. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the honor of working alongside Mark and witnessing firsthand his steadfast commitment to serving our community and upholding the principles of the law enforcement profession.
“His retirement marks the end of an extraordinary career that has left an indelible mark on our agency. While his absence will be deeply felt, his legacy of service will be remembered for years to come. On behalf of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes to Mark as he embarks on this next chapter.”
Chief Hooper is a 2014 graduate of the University of Tennessee’s Southern Command & Leadership Academy (SELA).
Prior to joining the HCSO, Deputy Chief Hooper served as a Patrol Deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for two years.
