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Harold Hamilton
Agency patch
Police Officer

Harold Hamilton

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch October 19, 1970
Age 32
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 296
The Vigil Panel 107 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 105

Incident

Police Officer Harold Hamilton was shot and killed after responding to a bank robbery call at the Wells Fargo Bank at Seventh Avenue and Clement Street. When Officer Hamilton and his partner arrived, they attempted to enter the bank, and Officer Hamilton was shot and killed. Officer Hamilton's partner was able to return fire, wounding the suspect. At the officer's funeral, members of the Black Liberation Army planted a time bomb outside the church. The bomb exploded but did not injure any mourners. The suspect was released after 17 years in prison but later died of the gunshot wounds suffered in the incident. Officer Hamilton had been a member of the San Francisco Police Department for six years. Survivors include his wife and four children. The Black Liberation Army was a violent, radical group that attempted to fight for independence from the United States government in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The BLA was responsible for the murders of more than 10 police officers and the wounding of many more law enforcement officers. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Liberation Army's violent activism.

Survivors

Survivors include his wife and four children.

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.
Police Officer Hamilton gave the San Francisco Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Hamilton.

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

Agency

Department San Francisco Police Department
Type Police Department
Location San Francisco, CA
Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 19, 1970
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 296
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Harold is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Harold was 32. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Harold had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

San Francisco Police Department has 106 officers remembered here, Harold among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Harold Hamilton

San Francisco Police Department · End of Watch October 19, 1970

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-W

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