Trolley hero quits force

Hammond facing criminal charges and a lawsuit

"Officer Ken Hammond has resigned from the Ogden Police Department effective 9 January, 2009," Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner said in a statement Monday.

The police department said it would have no further comment. Hammond's attorney, Brenda Beaton, delivered his letter to police administration.

"It's disappointing from Ken's perspective because he feels like he dedicated a substantial part of his life to working for the Ogden Police Department and they benefitted from his notoriety of Trolley Square," she told the Deseret News on Monday.

Beaton said Ogden city officials had told her during an internal affairs probe that they were going to terminate his employment. He was on paid administrative leave pending a pair of internal investigations.

"They wouldn't wait for his preliminary hearing or trial to determine whether the allegations were true," she said. "They will not wait for Ken to have his day in court."

Hammond has already secured another job, she said, declining to say where.

Hammond, 35, is facing a felony charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old. He is accused of engaging in a sex act with someone at least 10 years younger than he was back in 2005. Hammond is due in 2nd District Court on Jan. 27. Beaton said she is preparing to take the case to trial.

Shortly afterward, another woman filed a civil lawsuit against Hammond accusing him of violating her rights during her husband's DUI arrest. Natasha Child never filed a complaint with police but contends in her lawsuit that Hammond pulled her pants down while she was handcuffed.

Hammond was decorated for his heroism in stopping the February 2007 shooting rampage at the Trolley Square mall. The officer was on a date with his wife when Sulejman Talovic opened fire. Five people were killed and four wounded before Hammond engaged Talovic in a shootout, keeping the gunman distracted until Salt Lake City police arrived.

Talovic, 18, was shot and killed by police.

Hammond recently was named the American Police Hall of Fame's 2008 Officer of the Year.

"As you can expect, it's not one of the better times in his life," Beaton said of Hammond's troubles. "But Ken has been a good officer, and he's a good person, and he will get through this."

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com

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