Hamilton County, TN – In light of the tragic events which occurred last night that claimed the lives of (5) Dallas police officers and injured (7) more, Sheriff Jim Hammond would like to offer the following statement.

"As Sheriff of Hamilton County and having worked in law enforcement for over 45 years, I am deeply saddened by the horrific events that unfolded last night in Dallas, Texas, that claimed the lives of (5) police officers and seriously wounded (7) others. Each day, each hour, thousands of men and women across our great Nation don the uniform and badge of law enforcement and leave their homes to serve as a symbol, a beacon of hope, for justice and peace.

These men and women, dedicate their lives to protect those they call their friends, their family, and their neighbors. They are fathers, they are mothers, they are sons and they are daughters… Each day, they leave to perform their work not knowing if they will return to whence they came.

What happened last night in Dallas is a picture of pure evil and it is ghastly to think that there are people in this world who would purely target our men and women of law enforcement for sport. In trying times like these, we must all remember what makes our country great… Our love of compassion, our ability to come together and unite, and those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good…

On behalf of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, I would like to ask our Heavenly Father to bless the officers and the families of those who were killed or wounded in last night’s tragic events.

To the members of the Dallas Police Department, I would like to offer our condolences, our support, and our prayers."