Officers' wives proud and grateful for the recognition

Sarita Hammond smiled a lot Friday. Emily Olsen kept a close watch on her three children. Robyn Scharman looked on as her husband was being interviewed by a television reporter.

They are the wives of three police officers who were among the five honored for their efforts in bringing an end to the Trolley Square killings Monday.

"It's totally overwhelming," Sarita Hammond said about all of the attention. "This is unreal."

The wives learned Friday morning at the Capitol about declarations and citations honoring their husbands. There were many kind words from senators and representatives about their husbands.

One senator, however, empathized with these wives.

Sen. Carlene Walker's grandfather was a Utah Highway Patrol trooper. Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights, said she "understands" what the families of law enforcement officers go through.

"I stand to thank the families, the wives, the parents, the children who are willing to back up these men and women who risk their lives for us on a daily basis," Walker announced to the packed Senate chambers. "We pay tribute to you and thank you."

Joshua Scharman and Brett Olsen were two of the four Salt Lake police officers lauded Friday.

Robyn Scharman said she was proud that her husband and the other four officers were being singled out by the Legislature. "It's just too bad we can't recognize all of them, because they deserve it," she said.

Emily Olsen was honored that her husband was rewarded Friday for putting his life on the line, something she noted he does every single day.

"My husband went in without his (protective) vest on," Olsen said about Monday's shooting. "He only had a police jacket on.

"He does things like that all the time, to my dismay," she said with a laugh. "He puts other people ahead of himself all the time. That's just a day in the job for him. But for us wives, it's really horrible and hard, but also wonderful when he gets honored for the job he does every day."

Sarita Hammond said her husband, Ogden police officer Ken Hammond, deserves the recognition. Instead of being able to complete an early Valentine's Day dinner with her husband Monday night, she had to call 911 and describe to a dispatcher what her husband looked like for his own safety.

"I was absolutely terrified," she said. "I kept hearing gunshots, at least 20 — it was a lot. I knew by that point they were being fired at."

For a "very tense few minutes" that seemed like forever, Sarita Hammond waited for some sign that her husband was safe. Then her cell phone rang.

"I remember he said, 'I'm OK, the shooter's down, I'm OK,'" she said. "That was the biggest relief that I could imagine."

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com