Elmer L. Hunter
Agency patch
Officer

Elmer L. Hunter

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Felonious Veteran →
End of Watch March 20, 1963
Age 24
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Badge 1911
The Vigil Panel 98 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Elmer Hunter was shot and killed while escorting a man off of a city bus at Nichols Avenue (modern-day Martin Luther King Jr Avenue) and Alabama Avenue, SE. The two became engaged in a struggle, and the suspect pulled out a .32 caliber handgun and shot him three times. The subject was arrested several hours later. Officer Hunter was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-93738D29
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Hunter gave the Metropolitan Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 20, 1963
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 24
Badge Number 1911
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber
Offender Arrested

Military Service

Elmer L. Hunter served in the Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer Elmer L. Hunter 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.

Metropolitan Police Department
70
of 131 officers
53.4% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% 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. Elmer L. Hunter'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 Elmer L. Hunter Compares

Age at End of Watch
24
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Arrested

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmer L. Hunter is highlighted in Mar.

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. Elmer L. Hunter was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.

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

Incident Location