Richard B. Hammack
Deputy Sheriff

Richard B. Hammack

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. — Monterey Park, CA
Felonious
End of Watch May 11, 1992
Age 31
Tour of Duty 7 yrs 6 mo
Badge 5044
The Vigil Panel 138 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Richard Hammack was shot and killed while serving a high-risk search warrant at a mobile home on Gazelle Drive, in Palmdale. Investigators were conducting the search as part of an amphetamine distribution investigation. The subject opened fire through the walls of the mobile home, wounding one deputy. Deputy Hammack, who was not wearing a bulletproof vest, was struck in the neck, face, and upper body by rifle fire as he ran to assist two other deputies who had been fired upon. Deputy Hammack had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 7-1/2 years and was assigned to the Antelope Valley Station.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-000AD085
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 Sheriff Hammack gave the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hammack.

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

Agency

Location Monterey Park, CA
Platform Identity lacso.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 11, 1992
Tour of Duty 7 yrs 6 mo
Age 31
Badge Number 5044
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle
Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Richard B. Hammack 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept., 58 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept.
58
of 120 officers
48.3% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard B. Hammack's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Richard B. Hammack Compares

Age at End of Watch
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard B. Hammack is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard B. Hammack was killed by rifle.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location