John Ossten Hammett

Childersburg Police Department — Childersburg, AL

Felonious

End of Watch December 30, 1942

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 79 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Patrolman J. Hammett and Acting Chief of Police Albert DeLoach were shot and killed in a restaurant by the proprietor around 5:00 a.m. The man became angry and shot both officers when Chief DeLoach warned one of his customers to leave town, or she would go to jail. The suspect surrendered to the local sheriff shortly thereafter. The suspect was charged with two counts of murder. In his trial of the murder of Patrolman Hammett, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 9 years and 11months in prison.

Survivors

Patrolman Hammett was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-EE3904AD
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 Hammett served with the Childersburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Childersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hammett.

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

Agency

Department Childersburg Police Department

Location Childersburg, AL

Platform Identity cpd.talladega.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 30, 1942

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Convicted of manslaughter

Patrolman John Ossten Hammett 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Childersburg Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Childersburg Police Department

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious