Hamilton County, TN – Yesterday afternoon, Sheriff Jim Hammond and Chief Deputy Austin Garrett presented a commendation and sheriff’s challenge coin to Patrol Deputy Richard McDowell for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Deputy McDowell was awarded a commendation for his efforts to investigate, locate, and apprehend a fugitive wanted for Identity Theft and Criminal Impersonation in January 2020.

Whereas, in January 2020, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division requested the Patrol Division to help locate and apprehend a wanted fugitive who had committed multiple acts of Criminal Impersonation and Identity theft. Patrol Deputy McDowell was provided with the last known address of this suspect. While attempting to locate and apprehend the fugitive, Deputy McDowell took the investigation further and discovered the name the suspect had used and the name the warrants were issued for was in fact an alias. Deputy McDowell brought this to the attention of Criminal Investigations detectives and with his assistance, the alias was found to be an innocent victim and real person.

Because of Deputy McDowell’s efforts, warrants for this innocent victim were recalled in Cleveland, Tennessee, Cobb County, Georgia, and the Chattanooga Police Department.

Additionally, because of Deputy McDowell’s diligence, the actual suspect was identified and arrested for Identity Theft and Criminal Impersonation.

Please offer Deputy Richard McDowell your congratulations and appreciation for his service to the HCSO and the citizens of Hamilton County.