Unauthorized network access prompts HCSO system shutdown

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  Several external services to the public and resources that are provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) are temporarily unavailable.

At 6:30 a.m., HCSO detected an unauthorized,  external source, attempting to access their network.

Sheriff Austin Garrett stated, “out of an abundance of caution, our Information Technology team immediately initiated a full system shutdown to protect the integrity of our infrastructure and safeguard sensitive data and records.”

This means several of their external services will be unavailable, including their official website, public access to mugshots, press releases, warrant search page, etc.

Sheriff Garrett says it is undetermined at this time when these services will be up and running again.

This attempted access is currently under investigation by HCSO, state, and federal partners.