Lieutenant Martin "Clay" Hart, Jr.

History

Lieutenant Martin “Clay” Hart Jr. has always called Louisa County home. Having been raised in the east end of our county, he began serving his community at a young age with the Holly Grove Volunteer Fire Department. Clay knew that he wanted to have a career in public safety as it ran in his family. His Grandfather was a Detroit City police officer and his father was a City of Richmond Firefighter.

A 2004 Louisa County High School graduate, it didn’t take long for him to begin his journey. In August of 2005 he was selected by FEMA to be a part of a rescue/recovery team working in the Hurricane Katrina devastated streets of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Once home, Clay applied to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, becoming a 911 dispatcher, and quickly knew he belonged with the LCSO.

Work in Law enforcement

In 2008 Clay became a Deputy for the Sheriff’s Office assigned to the patrol division. He was promoted to Corporal in 2012. In August of 2012, Cpl. Hart became a School Resource Officer at the Louisa County High School. In October of 2012, while working lake patrol for a triathlon, Cpl. Hart was able to rescue an unresponsive swimmer from the water with the assistance of a fellow Deputy, for this Cpl. Hart received a lifesaving award.

In 2014 he was assigned to the department’s Special Operations Division as a Detective, during this time he was also selected to the Special Response Team as an operator. Detective Hart has been involved in hundreds of narcotic cases that led to prosecutions as well as several high profile cases. In January of 2019 Det. Hart was selected as the team leader for the Special Response Team. In January of 2020, Detective Hart was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant of the Special Operations Division, which he currently holds. 

• September 2006, NECI Emergency Medical Dispatcher
• September 2009, ALERRT Active Shooter
• April 2011, Reid Technique of Interview and Interrogation
• September 2011, Investigative Forensics
• June 2012, Law Enforcement Boating Operations (Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries)
• August 2012, Basic School Resource Officer Training
• Life Saving Award 2012
• Officer of the year nominee 2012
• August 2013, Basic Undercover School
• October 2013, Gang Specialist
• November 2013, Covert Electronics and Technical Surveillance
• August 2015, Covert Neutralization of Locks
• April 2016, Basic SWAT Operator
• August 2016, Investigation and Prosecution of Gang Cases in Virginia (Gang Busters IV)
• December 2018, General instructor
• May 2019, Firearms Instructor