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Wells Cortright Hammond
Incident
Patrolman Wells Hammond was killed when his motorcycle skid on the wet roadway. He was thrown from the motorcycle into the path of a motor vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, and run over. Patrolman Hammond was a U.S Army veteran and had served with the Pennsylvania Highway Patrol for ten months.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and six siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Wells is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Hammond served with the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Wells Cortright Hammond served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol has lost 18 officers; 10 of them lost to accidents.
Wells is one of 417 officers lost to accidents in PA, 33% of the 1,262 remembered there.
Wells is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Wells is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1929, 1 officer at Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol was lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 3.
In 1929, 6 officers in PA were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 133 years on record. The heaviest was 1932, with 14.
In 1929, 118 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1929, 130 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Wells was 24. Of the 10 lost to accidents at Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 22.5 and 31.5; the middle age was 25. Wells had served 0.8 years; the middle length of service was 1.2 years.
Wells was 24. Of the 412 lost to accidents in PA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48.3; the middle age was 38. Wells had served 0.8 years; the middle length of service was 8.6 years.
Wells was 24. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Wells had served 0.8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Wells was 24. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Wells had served 0.8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 10% of these deaths at Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol; July holds the most, 20%. Mondays: 30%.
October holds 10.6% of these deaths in PA, more than any other month. Mondays: 12.9%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.4%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 55.6% of all 18 deaths at Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 33% of all 1,262 deaths in PA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol has 18 officers remembered here, Wells among them.
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Martin Aloysius Hanahoe
Feb 27, 1927
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Vincent Alphonso Hassen
Dec 27, 1927
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Sharon C. Wible
Feb 6, 1928
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Andrew W. Miller
Apr 1, 1928
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James Fenton Proof
Aug 29, 1928
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Russell Theodore Swanson
Apr 19, 1929
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Wells Cortright Hammond
Oct 14, 1929
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Brady Clemens Paul
Dec 27, 1929
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Thomas E. Lawry
Jan 31, 1930
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Arthur Allen Koppenhaver
Jul 13, 1930
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Thomas Barnett Elder Mar 22, 1931
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Orville A. Mohring
Dec 11, 1931
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Joseph A. Conrad
Sep 6, 1932
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Charles Edward Householder, Jr.
Aug 19, 1933
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Herbert Paul Brantlinger
Sep 3, 1933
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Joseph L. Fulton
Jun 4, 1936
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Joe B. Champion
Jul 15, 1936
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J. Lee Clarke
Mar 1, 1937
Where
Military Service
Wells Cortright Hammond served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Wells Cortright Hammond’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
