Clarence E. Hamler

Chattanooga Police Department — Chattanooga, TN

Felonious

End of Watch August 14, 1977

Age 27

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 367

The Vigil Panel 118 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 26

Incident

Patrolman Hamler was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery on his way to work around 1:30 p.m. at the Red Food Store on S. Broad Street. He had stopped at a grocery store to visit his brother when two armed robbers entered. As Patrolman Hamler rounded a corner, one of the suspects shot him in the head and neck. Patrolman Hamler's brother picked up his gun and fatally wounded one of the suspects. The second suspect, age 53, was added to the FBI Ten Most Wanted List and was apprehended three months later. He was given a death sentence, which was later reduced to life. In 1956, the suspect was the first criminal to be sentenced to life under Tennessee's new habitual criminal act. He had spent most of his life in prison and had escaped several times. He was out on work release when he killed Patrolman Hamler. Patrolman Hamler had served with the Chattanooga Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-281C0393
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.
Patrolman Hamler gave the Chattanooga Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chattanooga community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hamler.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Chattanooga Police Department

Location Chattanooga, TN

Platform Identity cpd.hamilton.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 14, 1977

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 27

Badge Number 367

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender One shot and killed

Patrolman Clarence E. Hamler 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Chattanooga Police Department, 19 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.4% of this agency's fallen.

Chattanooga Police Department

of 27 officers

70.4% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious