'Hero' police officer cleared in shooting

Effective today, Ogden police officer Ken Hammond is able to return to duty after an internal investigation concluded his use of deadly force in the Trolley Square shooting rampage was justified.

"He's the hero of it," Ogden Police Lt. Scott Conley told the Deseret Morning News on Friday. "He wasn't required to become involved and he did."

A review of the shooting by the Ogden Police Department concluded that Hammond acted properly when he got into a shootout with Sulejman Talovic.

"It was all within policy and the correct force to be applied," Conley said.

Hammond was having dinner with his wife at the Rodizio Grill on Feb. 12, when Talovic walked into the mall, guns blazing. Police said Talovic shot and killed five people and wounded four others.

Hearing "popping" noises, Hammond went to investigate and saw bodies lying on the floor in one of the businesses.

"I could tell there was some people that had been seriously injured," he said last month. "I noticed there was a man with a shotgun walking out of the business where the people were."

Hammond told his wife to go back into the restaurant and call 911. Meanwhile, he drew his .45-caliber gun and got into a shootout with Talovic.

While Hammond engaged the 18-year-old gunman, his wife was trying to describe to emergency dispatchers what he was wearing. He had to convince Salt Lake City police officers rushing into the mall that he was not a second gunman.

"My husband is an Ogden city cop. He has a gun. He's off duty. He's out there somewhere," Sarita Hammond told dispatchers in a 911 call released this week.

Ultimately, the officers confronted Talovic inside the Pottery Barn Kids store where he was killed. The officers were all honored by the Utah Legislature for their heroism.

The officers were cleared in the shooting by the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office. The Salt Lake City Police Department returned them to duty last week.

Ogden police reviewed the shooting and concluded that Hammond's actions were justified and concluded he properly handled his gun.

"He was certified with the weapon he had which was in compliance with our policy," Conley said. "It was carried in a holster. Everything was right in compliance."

Hammond will return to work on Wednesday, working his regular shift as a traffic officer.