Hamilton County, TN – Yesterday evening, Sheriff Austin Garrett and numerous HCSO personnel participated in the 2024 Team Mentoring, Inc’s Summer Youth Retreat for inner city youth at Booker T. Washington State Park.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office was invited to partner with the Youth Retreat by the organization’s Executive Director, Freddie Brooks, a retired Chattanooga Fire Department firefighter and graduate of the inaugural Sheriff’s Citizens Academy. The retreat offers boys and girls an intensive overview of the firefighting profession with safe, interactive, and physically challenging learning opportunities based on current safety and training standards. Certified fire instructors teach the retreat, helping cadets build physical strength, confidence, and leadership skills applicable to their lives and future careers.

As part of the presentation, personnel in the HCSO School Resource Deputy Unit, SWAT Team, K-9 Unit, and Patrol Services gave demonstrations and discussed how they conduct their daily operations. HCSO deputies serving in the Hamilton County UAS Team were also onsite flying law enforcement drones and showcasing some of their aerial capabilities.

“Partnerships with organizations like Team Mentoring, Inc., help foster meaningful and lasting relationships between the HCSO and the citizens we proudly serve. Now, more than ever, it is important for law enforcement agencies to partner with organizations who seek to create positive opportunities to engage our youth and build future community leaders,” stated Sheriff Austin Garrett.

Thank you to all the HCSO personnel who participated in last night’s event.