Criminal Investigations is responsible for investigating Personal and Property Crimes reported to have occurred in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County.

Personal crimes include homicides, sex crimes, robberies, kidnapping, missing and endangered persons, crimes against children, sex trafficking, and other crimes of a personal nature.

Property crimes investigations include burglaries, auto thefts, frauds, thefts of property, and other crimes involving property.

Criminal Investigations is also responsible for operating the Crime Scene Unit (C.S.U.) which is comprised of Detectives who have received additional training at the National Forensic Academy in evidence identification, collection, and preservation.

To submit a tip to Criminal Investigations, click the button below:

The Narcotics and Special Investigations Unit (N.S.I.) is responsible for enforcing local, state and federal laws throughout the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County and nine municipalities within, the City of Chattanooga being the largest. The N.S.I. is tasked with conducting investigations into narcotics trafficking, money laundering and narcotics smuggling organizations.

NSI collaborates closely with the Tennessee Dangerous Drug Task Force and contributes Narcotics detectives to specialized task forces such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force. Moreover, NSI actively supports enforcement initiatives and maintains strong working relationships with agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The N.S.I. aids other agency units and law enforcement organizations by providing technical support, intelligence, undercover operations and surveillance. As a public service, the N.S.I. conducts presentations on drug awareness, drug identification, and methamphetamine labs.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office utilizes a 24-hour Drug Tip Hotline: (423) 209-7150 and encourages citizens to contact the N.S.I. when they have information concerning drugs or other criminal activities.

To submit a tip to N.S.I., click the button below:

The Crime and Intelligence Analysis Unit (C.I.A.U.) is staffed by civilian analysts who provide essential support services to the HCSO. The primary objective of the C.I.A.U. is to deliver accurate, actionable, and timely information to law enforcement, enabling them to perform their duties safely and efficiently.

Analysts at the C.I.A.U. produce a wide range of reports, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative analyses. For instance, they support Patrol Services by generating reports such as the Selective Traffic Enforcement Report, highlighting areas in unincorporated Hamilton County with high rates of traffic accidents. Moreover, analysts compile intelligence reports on individuals of interest for Uniformed Services, Investigative Services and Corrections Services. The C.I.A.U. also plays a significant role in creating analytical maps, conducting mobile forensics analyses, performing data analysis, and engaging in various other tasks.

The Criminal Warrants Unit is dedicated to ensuring the safe, effective, and efficient apprehension, as well as the applicable extradition, of all criminally wanted individuals in Hamilton County.

The Criminal Warrants Unit is comprised of specially trained Sheriff’s detectives who collaborate closely with local, state, and federal courts to execute warrants for the arrest and apprehension of wanted individuals. The Unit is entrusted with safely transporting wanted persons from various facilities and jurisdictions across the United States.

The Criminal Warrants Unit ensures community safety by actively monitoring registered sex offenders in Hamilton County through proactive, timely, and accurate accountability-based reporting. The unit tracks and registers over 400 sex offenders on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. Offenders who breach their court-mandated terms are investigated by the unit, and in certain instances, offenders are prosecuted for their violations.

The Criminal Warrants Unit plays an integral part in the daily law enforcement operations of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and their operations ensure our county remains a safe place to live, work and raise a family.

The Civil Warrant’s Unit is responsible for the service and execution of all court-related process received by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

The primary court process served by the Civil Warrants Unit originates in Chancery Court, Circuit Court, Sessions Court and Juvenile Court. Examples of courts service include orders of protection, detainers, summons, garnishments and subpoenas. Examples of documents received for execution may include Writs of Possession (eviction) and property or cash levies. The Unit also serves process issued from any court in all fifty (50) states.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office’s Property and Evidence Unit is a secure facility tasked with managing, securing, and maintaining accountability for all property obtained through the chain of custody by Sheriff’s Office personnel. They uphold a strict chain of custody to ensure a continuous record of evidence possession and analysis until its presentation in court or its release to the rightful owner, as determined by court or investigative findings.

Upon receipt of evidence, Property and Evidence technicians accurately record, package and store items until they are required for evidence in court, transferred to the crime lab, or returned to its appropriate owner through the legal process. Property includes all items of evidence, items taken for safekeeping, and found property.

The Sheriff's Underwater Recovery Team (S.U.R.T.) is a specialized unit within Investigative Services, composed of highly trained public safety divers. Equipped to recover evidence, including mid-size vehicles and boats, the team operates in all weather conditions but does not perform decompression dives.

S.U.R.T. members are skilled in underwater crime scene processing and have extensive training in both basic and advanced public safety diving. They assist in investigating water-related incidents, such as drownings, scuba diving, boating, and aircraft accidents. Additionally, they conduct salvage operations as necessary to retrieve critical evidence for investigations.

Since its inception in 2014, the Hamilton County Unmanned Aerial Systems (U.A.S.) Team has been at the forefront of integrating advanced drone technology into public safety operations. Our team of highly trained professionals have flown over 2,800 miles and logged more than 650 hours of flight time, providing critical aerial support across a wide spectrum of missions. From search and rescue operations where our drones have been pivotal in swiftly locating missing individuals, to detailed traffic accident assessments that benefit from aerial perspectives, our U.A.S. capabilities significantly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our responses. Equipped with state-of-the-art cameras and sensors, our drones deliver real-time, high-definition imagery and data, playing a crucial role in law enforcement and emergency management.

Operating in full compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, the Hamilton County U.A.S. team upholds the highest standards of safety and ethical conduct. We are committed to transparency and engage regularly with the community to showcase how our drone technology is applied, fostering public understanding and trust. Our operations are meticulously designed to respect privacy and protect civil liberties, emphasizing our dedication to responsible and accountable use of U.A.S. By continuously leveraging innovative drone solutions, we enhance the safety, security, and well-being of the residents of Hamilton County.

The Dignitary Protection Unit consists of highly trained and experienced deputies selected for their expertise in protection services. The diverse backgrounds of these law enforcement professionals enable the unit to provide exceptional service to the community and ensure a safe, secure visit for dignitaries in Hamilton County.

Once the Sheriff approves a protection detail, the unit’s commander assembles the team from their respective assignments. Each deputy then prepares for the dignitary’s arrival by advancing the venue, gathering threat assessments and intelligence, arranging transportation, developing an operations plan, and completing other related tasks to ensure a safe and secure visit.

The Dignitary Protection Unit is dedicated to protecting Hamilton County, its visiting dignitaries, and the citizens it serves.