Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Charles Hammond was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for passing a counterfeit bill. He asked the man to return to the police station with him, and as they did so, the man attempted to flee on foot. As Detective Hammond chased him, the suspect turned and shot him in the alley behind city hall. Although wounded, Detective Hammond continued to chase the suspect and apprehended him. He gained control of the suspect's handgun and shot and killed him. The suspect was a convicted felon who had escaped federal prison in Georgia. An accomplice of the killer was executed in 1926 for killing Officer James Skelly in 1924. Detective Hammond had been employed with the Muskegon Police Department for 13 years. He was survived by his wife and four children. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Muskegon, Michigan.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-0782C710- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Hammond gave the Muskegon Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Muskegon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Hammond.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Charles Dewitt Hammond is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Dewitt Hammond's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Dewitt Hammond Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Dewitt Hammond is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Dewitt Hammond was killed by handgun.