The Scenic Chattanooga Optimist Club awarded the 2018 Respect for Law – Officer of the Year award to Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Rodger Brown for his many dedicated years of service to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the citizens of Hamilton County, and the many, many cases that he has investigated throughout his distinguished career.
The Respect for Law Officer of the Year Award has its roots in a program started in 1965 when former FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover and International Optimist Club Past International President, Carl Bowen, created the Respect for Law community program.
The program was adopted locally because of the club’s belief that it is important for our community to recognize the many positive attributes of local law enforcement personnel who serve and protect the citizens of Chattanooga and Hamilton County. Currently, more than 1,500 Optimist Clubs participate each year in recognizing local law enforcement officers who go above and beyond the call of duty.
“I am very proud of Detective Brown for his service and commitment to this agency and the citizens for which we serve,” said Sheriff Jim Hammond. “His distinguished service and investigatory prowess certainly exemplify the mission of the Sheriff’s Office and proves his willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a fair and equitable investigation.”
Detective Brown has served in numerous positions within Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office since he was hired in 1988, including demanding assignments in the Hamilton County Jail, Patrol Division, SWAT, Training Division, and Criminal Investigations Division. He is also a graduate of the prestigious National Forensics Academy, and is a Field Training Officer, former SWAT Precision/Tactical Marksman, current Firearms Instructor, and Agency Armorer. He is presently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division where he investigates crimes against persons and is a member of the Crime Scene Unit.
Harsh Desai, president of the Scenic Chattanooga Optimist Club said, “For over 20 years our Optimist Club has participated in the Optimist International Respect for Law Program. As a community, we are deeply indebted to those who choose a career of service in law enforcement. These men and women serve as the frontline of protection for all of us, and we are proud to honor them.”
Gary D. Behler, Hamilton County Juvenile Court Clerk and chairman of the Scenic Chattanooga Optimist Club Respect for Law Program said, “It has been my honor and privilege to serve as Chairman of the Respect for Law Program for the past seventeen years. Our men and women of law enforcement face an incredibly challenging job every day. Every citizen of our community owes them a tremendous debt of gratitude for the service they provide and for their willingness to place their lives on the line each and every day!”
Sheriff Jim Hammond, Detective Rodger Brown, Scenic Chattanooga Optimist Club President, Harsh Desai, and Hamilton Juvenile Court Clerk and Chairman of the Scenic Chattanooga Optimist Club Respect for Law Program, Gary D. Behler