Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Marshal Robert Hammers was shot and killed in front of a local bank while on patrol shortly after 1:00 am.
He encountered a gang of five men who were planning a robbery at the bank. Deputy Marshal Hammers was struck by a shotgun blast and a pistol shot during the ensuing shootout with the suspects. All five suspects were apprehended the next day at a home near Mannford, Oklahoma.
All five suspects were members of a notorious gang of outlaws with ties to the Pretty Boy Floyd and Karpis-Barker gangs. They were responsible for several bank robberies in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. All were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in the Oklahoma Penitentiary.
On June 5, 1936, two of the suspects were charged with Deputy Marshal Hammers' murder and returned to Kansas. On March 3, 1937, they were convicted of his murder and sentenced to life.
Deputy Marshal Hammers is survived by his wife, four children, mother, two brothers, and sister.
Survivors
Deputy Marshal Hammers is survived by his wife, four children, mother, two brothers, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-EE9AE069- 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.
Deputy Marshal Hammers served with the Clearwater Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Clearwater community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Marshal Hammers.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Marshal Robert J. Hammers 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 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. Robert J. Hammers's cause is highlighted.
How Robert J. Hammers Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert J. Hammers is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert J. Hammers was killed by handgun.