Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Richard D. (Dick) Hamilton worked at the Gulf Refinery as a foreman. He was appointed as a special police officer by Port Arthur Police Chief Pete Williams.
On November 3, 1920, Officer Hamilton went to the electrical shop of Oscar Spence to arrest him on a warrant for burglary. Hamilton declared that when he informed Spence that he had come after him, Spence opened a drawer of his desk and drew a gun. Hamilton then fired six shots in rapid succession. Spence ran into the street and collapsed. He died shortly afterwards at the hospital.
Around 8:00 p.m., on December 11, 1920, Hamilton was driving home from a picture show with his wife, three children and a sister. Two men in an automobile pulled alongside Hamilton and one man leaned out of the window and fired a blast from a 12-gauge shotgun. Hamilton, who was driving, fell over into his wife’s arms. A load of No. 6 buckshot, which caused the officer’s death, entered in the back under the left shoulder blade some of the shot making an exit on the right breast. The shot, which killed Hamilton, was fired at close range, the officer's clothing being burned and a large hole torn in his back. Hamilton’s car swerved into the curbing of the sidewalk, smashed the right front wheel, and nearly overturned.
Hamilton was buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Port Arthur next to his father who died in 1919 and his mother who had died in 1918. Hamilton was survived by his wife, Josie, and three children - Ruth Evelyn and Vivian - one brother, Archie Hamilton of Beaumont, a sister, Mrs. C. G. Land, and two nephews, James and John Land of Port Arthur.
Ralph F. Spence, 21 years old, brother of Oscar Spence, who was shot and killed on November 3 by Officer Hamilton, was arrested in Beaumont shortly after the shooting. Spence had rented the automobile and the driver was later released claiming he did not know Spence intended to kill Hamilton. Spence was charged with the murder but the trial produced a hung jury and he was never re-tried.
Survivors
Hamilton was survived by his wife, Josie, and three children - Ruth Evelyn and Vivian - one brother, Archie Hamilton of Beaumont, a sister, Mrs.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Hamilton served with the Port Arthur Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Port Arthur community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Hamilton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer Richard D. Hamilton is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Port Arthur Police Department, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard D. Hamilton's cause is highlighted.
How Richard D. Hamilton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard D. Hamilton is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard D. Hamilton was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Port Arthur Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
