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Friday, October 30, 2026Oct 30

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Police briefs: Lieutenant investigated for meal scam to retire

photo Rick Hamrick is seen in a doorway in this file photo.

Lieutenant investigated for meal scam to retire

Hamilton County Lt. Rick Hamrick will retire Sept. 1, according to the sheriff’s department. Hamrick was suspended with pay on June 10 while the department investigated allegations that he purchased unauthorized meals for himself and others using taxpayer money.

Under his watch, jurors and officers spent $13,000 on meals during nine jury trials in Hamilton County Criminal Court this year.

The results of the internal affairs investigation into the allegations will be released when the investigation concludes.


House fire displaces five people

Map

4207 10th Avenue

4207 10th Avenue

Three adults and two children are homeless after a fire swept through an East Lake home Wednesday night, Chattanooga Fire Department spokesman Bruce Garner said.

The fire started just before 8 p.m. Wednesday at 4207 10th Ave., and the fire department responded with four companies. The house was cluttered and had several roof additions, which made it difficult for firefighters to find and extinguish the fire, Garner said.