Hamilton County, TN - On Thursday, October 26, 2017, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jessica White was awarded the prestigious NAACP Ralph Cothran Civil Service Officer of the Year Award for 2017. This auspicious award is presented to those that have performed an extraordinary act(s) of service in the community while serving in a civil service role.

This notable award is offered to civil servants in order to recognize the importance of their achievement(s) and service to the government entity and the public they serve, in cases where the employee is deserving of greater public recognition than that which can be accorded by the department or agency where they are employed.

Deputy White received her award at the 2017 Ruby Hurley Dinner sponsored by the local NAACP.

Several Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office personnel attended the event in support of Deputy White including Captain Charles Lowery, Jr., and Lieutenant Van Hinton. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Diplomatic Protection Unit (DPU) also participated in the event and consisted of Captain Charles Gaston and Lieutenant David Sowder. Also in attendance were several members of Deputy White’s family.

In addition, several notable national African American leaders were in attendance including Dr. Martin Luther King III and Eldrin Bell, the first African American Chief of Police and Police Commissioner of the Atlanta Police Department.

It is important to note that Deputy White is one of only two Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office employees who have received this prestigious award. The first was Chief Deputy Allen Branum in 2008. The Ralph Cothran Civil Service Award is named after the late Ralph Cothran, the first African American Chief of Police of the Chattanooga Police Department.