U.S. Marshals Service CARFTF Task Force Officer Awarded Purple Heart

Washington, DC – A U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) Officer was presented the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Purple Heart Award in a ceremony at USMS Headquarters on March 22, 2024.

Task Force Officer (TFO) Scott Chambers was recognized for exceptional bravery and courage when he was shot and injured while executing an arrest warrant with the CARFTF in Hampton, Virginia on January 11, 2023. 

As the CARFTF attempted to arrest a homicide suspect through a vehicle containment, the suspect stepped out armed with handguns in both hands and fired multiple rounds toward members of the team. Chambers was hit in the left shoulder and left thigh. He and fellow members of the CARFTF returned fire.  The suspect was pronounced dead at a local hospital.   

Multiple task force members provided trauma aid to Chambers, and he was taken via ambulance to the local trauma center where he underwent multiple surgeries to repair extensive damage and spent several days in the intensive care unit. 

“We are all grateful to TFO Chambers for his sacrifice. The courage and tenacity it takes to perform this too often perilous work is a testament to not only Scott, but to all of our Deputies and Task Force Officers,” said Director Ronald L. Davis.  

“This is humbling, and I simply want to say thank you to those on the task force for the roles you play,” Chambers said. “This was a team effort, and I am thankful for the team we have. Being on the task force with the U.S. Marshals is the highlight of my career.” 

The U.S. Marshals Service oversees the nation's regional fugitive task forces, established under the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000. The purpose of regional fugitive task forces is to combine the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend the most dangerous fugitives and assist in high profile investigations.

The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force began operations in June of 2004 and was among the first regional fugitive task forces to become fully operational following the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000. The CARFTF has partnership agreements with over 100 federal, state, and local agencies and has eight fully operational offices.

The CARFTF has successfully apprehended over 102,700 fugitives since its inception and has made an extraordinary impact on the apprehension of the region’s most dangerous and violent fugitives, always striving to make their communities safer.