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.
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
Recent comments
I feel bad for Hammond, but the average citizen arrested by a police...
Sad | Jan. 14, 2009 at 12:33 a.m.
For your sake, all of you who have jumped to the conclusion that he...
viking | Jan. 13, 2009 at 11:09 a.m.
Re: The Awful Truth
Do you have any data to back up your statement...
JT | Jan. 13, 2009 at 10:53 a.m.
- Germany celebrates Wall falling 3:53 p.m.
- Iraq electoral law passes 3:39 p.m.
- Memorial at site of Cleveland killings 3:35 p.m.
- Chavez to troops: Prepare for war 3:34 p.m.
- Suspect in Vail shooting faces charge 3:31 p.m.
- TCU moves into 4th place in BCS 3:16 p.m.
- Alcohol suspected in Roy shooting 2:36 p.m.
- Chaplain seeks prayers for meaning 2:36 p.m.
- La. Gov. declares state of emergency 2:34 p.m.
- 'SuperFreakonomics' just as fun 1:42 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
213 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - House passes health care bill
183 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
146 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
112 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
98
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
Again, why can't the left understand that WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS! Why can't...
Danica is absolutely amazing!! And so is Mckell. They played so good! Do they...
One Vote??? This sounds a bit dirty to me...the odds are virtually...
There's no such thing as a RINO anymore because all the Republican Party...
Hmm... the Dixie golf state champ and the SC volleyball state champ live in...
Look for a real solution. Taking water from a desert is insane! What...
.....tell this sub was gonna sink? Why do you think he bailed out!
Network engineer. Absolutely brilliant, he did not learn his skills in...
Why do you think Gordon Chiasa and Hot Rod Bailed out! This ship has been...
'However, contrary to what appears to be the opinion held by some here,...


