U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force Officer Awarded Purple Heart

On March 22, 2024, Task Force Officer (TFO) Scott Chambers was presented with the Purple Heart Award from the United States Marshals Service (USMS). Chambers showed exceptional bravery and courage when he was shot and injured while executing an arrest warrant in Hampton, VA with the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF).

On January 11, 2023, members of Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to arrest a homicide suspect through a vehicle containment in Hampton, VA. The suspect was in the passenger side of the vehicle. He stepped out armed with handguns in both hands. He fired multiple rounds towards members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force team. Several of these rounds struck Task Force Officer Scott Chambers in the left shoulder and left thigh. Chambers and fellow members of CA Pital Area Regional Fugitive Task Forcereturned fire and the suspect was incapacitated. Multiple task force members provided trauma aid to Chambers and he was taken via ambulance to the local trauma center. TFO Chambers underwent significant surgeries to repair extensive damage and spent several days in the intensive care unit.

“We are all grateful to Task Force Officer 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,” said Task Force Officer Scott Chambers. “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 USMS is incredibly grateful to Task Force Officer Chambers and we are all so happy he is ok after this incident. His skills, years of service, and decisiveness saved his and most likely others lives that day. His work with Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force each day is appreciated and will be remembered for years to come. 

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) 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 (CARFTF) 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 Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force has partnership agreements with over 100 federal, state, and local agencies and has 8 fully operational offices.

The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force 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.