Reader comments
Trolley hero's police certification revoked

Fortunately | 5:03 p.m. June 4, 2009

Forutunately, the ridiculous group that make up readership for this paper is too worried about the state of byu football and David Archuleta to read this story.

All the best to the ex-officer. Regardless of mistakes, he's to be thanked for his actions that night at Trolley Square.

kdtown | 5:26 p.m. June 4, 2009

Regardless of the mistake he made I will always be thankful for his heroism at Trolley Square. I'll never forget how grateful I was to hear that an off-duty officer was in the right place to help bring an end to that tragedy. He'll always be a hero.

Still a Hero? | 5:47 p.m. June 4, 2009

Why is this criminal still being referred to as a hero? He's a cop that abused his position to then sexually abuse others. In retrospect, his so-called heroism was nothing more than a twisted mind jumping at an opportunity to use his gun.

Bullies in Blue with Badges...

Comments continue below

He is still a hero.... | 6:12 p.m. June 4, 2009

He is a hero for saving lives that surely would have been lost. You can't take that credit away from him. As for his other mistakes, I have not heard the details not given out. "No Contest" is not an admission of guilt. It sometimes means that it is too expensive and risky to fight against. As for judgment of his motives, I would go on his actions. He "distracted" the killer, he did not shoot him.

well | 5:58 a.m. June 5, 2009

no one is perfect and too bad that he messed up. let the system take care of the problem.

Jerry Mabbott | 6:44 a.m. June 5, 2009

Three things to consider:

1. A human being fell to temptation, which we are all guilty of in some way.
2. That same human being was willing to sacrafice his own life to save others.
3. He is a hero for saving lives and is now paying the price for falling to temptation.

What happened? | 9:35 a.m. June 5, 2009

A little bit of power and honor and it all went to his head? Makes me wonder if any or all the officers need a bit of counseling. Something's up.

Anonymous | 9:51 a.m. June 5, 2009

he is still a hero, thats sad that he did what he he did with the 17 year old, but he is still a hero for stoping the shooter at trolly square he save a lot of lives no matter what

Throw The Baby With the Bathwate | 10:11 a.m. June 5, 2009

Sorry that Hammond has been discredited, and perhaps deserved so.

However, like some posters here, typical religious whoremongering of justice and arrogant sense of self-righteousness to not have the ability to recognize the Trolley Square senseless and murderous bloodbath rampage, and how much more blood would've been shed had Hammond not intervene.

How many lives was saved that night because of Hammond?

We will never know.

But your tone would change if the lives saved was one of your own.

Hero, or not. Certified or no, it does not make a single difference that Hammond did save lives as he prevented or slowed down the murderous man.

Those people who are saved may realize that, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and onward, lives on because someone prevented from having been killed.

Hammond was wrong with his sexual crime. Sure.

Do you think saving many lives does not mean anything anymore just because he made stupid mistakes of his own?

His actions at Trolley does not make it anymore or anyless meaningful just because the city says so, and it regards that he is no longer certified.

Give him due respect where he had clearly earned.

to: throw the baby | 10:27 a.m. June 5, 2009

you are a tool box

to: throw the baby | 10:27 a.m. | 11:01 a.m. June 5, 2009

to: throw the baby | 10:27 a.m. June 5, 2009

you are a tool box

You're such a typical mormon. That's why people hate your religion with a passion.

Because your mouth is way much too big then your heart. Professing to be a church of Christ is much easier than actually living as one.

And it really shows here.

Mormons, keep at it.

You can't change who you became and who you'll always be.

A | 11:31 a.m. June 5, 2009

He may have made mistakes. I am glad he will no longer be able to police the streets.
HOWEVER - what he did at Trolley Square that day was nothing less than heroic. I just wonder if any of you - or any of your loved ones - were at trolley Square that day and benifited from his actions. I think you ALL should be thanking him for what he did that day and leave the condemation to those in athority to deal with the other stuff. How quick we are to stone everyone else!

To A | 11:31 a.m. June 5, 2009 | 11:15 p.m. June 5, 2009

"How quick we are to stone everyone else!"

You're absolutely right as to how quick we are to stone everyone else. But then, I don't wonder, as this is a city and religion full of judgments upon everyone else except for themselves. Such selfrighteousness is nothing new to mormonism, it's part of their teachings, that is, that they are better then everyone else because they think they have something that others do not.

It's real delusional if you think about it, and mostly, it's sad, because they think they've got it made, and soon enough, they'll find out otherwise, when Christ shall say, "Depart from me, as I never knew you".

I am really confused as to why the stone throwers don't appreciate that real people's lives were saved that day. Perhaps they would have a different attitude if it was their loved ones that was killed that that. I would bet that there would be less arrogance then.

And only then.

Anonymous | 7:15 a.m. June 6, 2009

Looks like he is not in hiding like some people would do when confronted with a situation like this. He knows that he made a mistake and sounded like he is willing to face the consequences of his mistakes. I have to give him credit for that.

Truthteller | 9:57 a.m. June 6, 2009

Hammond was a reluctant hero at Trolley Square. He lied about his involved and the lies just kept getting bigger and bigger. The Dnews needs to get the SLCPD SWAT debrief video where Hammond actually admitted hiding from Talovic and did exchange gun fire until after Sgt. Andy Oblad finnaly convinced Hammond to join him at the escalator. Everyone saw the video on the news where Hammond turned and ran from gun fire leaving Olbad alone to face Talovic. After some coaching Hammond returned to back up Olbald as he commenced shooting at Talovic keeping him in the Pootery Barn where Sgt. Josh Schraman and two other SLCPD officers took Talovic down. Hammond did fire his 45 calibre weapon 3 times, all shots hit the wall. DNews do your job and tell the whole story--making a hero out of this guy only takes away from those that actually were the hero's. It's kind of like that movie "Hero" where the guy just walks into the airplane crash scene and the media makes him the heros and he just goes anong with it. Truth will set you free.

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