On Tuesday, Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett officially announced the promotion of Investigative Services Captain Mark Hooper to Deputy Chief of Law Enforcement. With 40 years of service at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Chief Hooper will oversee the day-to-day operations of Law Enforcement Services which includes Uniformed Services, Investigative Services, Judicial Security Services, School Resource Deputy Unit, and Special Operations.

“Deputy Chief Hooper has dedicated his entire career to law enforcement, ensuring the safety of Hamilton County residents,” said Sheriff Austin Garrett. “His distinguished service has earned him the respect of his peers and law enforcement throughout our region. I look forward to his accomplishments in his new role as Deputy Chief.” 

Throughout his notable career, Deputy Chief Hooper has held roles in Uniformed Services, Investigative Services, and Narcotics and Special Investigations, rising from Patrol Deputy to Captain. Notable achievements include founding the nationally recognized Pharmacy Alert Program and leading initiatives like the integration and expansion of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) (drones) throughout our operations.

Since his promotion to Captain in 2018, Chief Hooper has been instrumental in policy development, resource allocation, and inter-agency coordination. He has also championed the incorporation of new technology within the Sheriff’s Office such as body-worn cameras, the use of data-analytics, the creation of our Crime Intelligence and Analyst Unit (CIAU) and enhanced communication systems.

Born and raised in Whitwell, Tennessee, Chief Hooper is a 2014 graduate of the University of Tennessee Southern Command & Leadership Academy. He is married to Stacy Enloe Hooper and together they have one son, Reeves, along with three stepsons, Tom, Jack, and Phillip Johnson.