Hamilton County, TN – On Wednesday, August 24,

2022, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, local, state, and federal elected officials, and numerous co-workers, family, and friends gathered at the Hamilton County Courts Building to celebrate the retirement of Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond and Chief of Staff Gino Bennett.

Sheriff Jim Hammond officially began his career with the HCSO in 1978 when he was appointed Chief Deputy by then Sheriff, H.Q. Evatt. He would leave that office in 1994 prior to spending several years in service with the U.S. Department of State training police around the world and working in the private sector. He would return to the HCSO after being elected Sheriff in 2008.

Chief of Staff Gino Bennett began his career with the HCSO in 1981 when he was appointed Chaplain. He would serve in that role until 1995 when he would leave to run his real-estate firm, the Bennett Group. He would return to the HCSO in 2008 at Director of Support Services for Sheriff Jim Hammond. He was promoted to Chief of Staff in 2018.

During the ceremony, Sheriff Jim Hammond was presented service awards from United States Senator Marsha Blackburn, the Tennessee General Assembly, United States Secret Service, the HCSO Reserve Deputy Unit, and several other acknowledgments and well-wishes.

Please join with us as we celebrate their retirement from three decades of service to the HCSO and the citizens of Hamilton County.