An ordinary person did an extra ordinary thing--Ken Hammond

Ogden Police Officer, Ken Hammond, didn't wake up February 12th thinking, "I am going to be a hero today." None of us do, but Ken stepped into that roll before the day was over and probably saved countless lives.

Phelonius commented in a previous entry,

"May I go off topic? You have a guy there in Utah that is a hero now, and I am talking about Ken Hammond. Off-Duty cop who had the wherewithal to have his service revolver and a wheelbarrow worth of huevos handy when that Bosnian loser let loose with a shoulder cannon in a mall. Now...on to "Politicians Say the Silliest Things":

Quote:

“Thank goodness he was there,” said Greiner, who is also a state senator. “You don’t want to ever say it’s good we were there and killed somebody, but it’s probably good someone was there.”Probably good? Probably? The guy is a hero and the Police Chief and Senator says "well, perhaps it is good somebody just happened to be there..."

Wow, is the best response I can come up with.....just.....wow."

This is the story he is refering to: Mall massacre

In a subsequent follow up article:

"The Ogden off-duty officer involved...... has been identified as Ken Hammond, a six-year veteran of the department. He was scheduled to appear at a press conference Tuesday night.

His chief, Jon Greiner, said the officer is "a very level-headed traffic officer. He's just a good, all-around officer. Does his job."

Hammond was involved in a shootout in the crowded mall that eventually left Talovic, a Bosnian refugee from Salt Lake City, dead.

Greiner said a "significant number" of Ogden police officers carry weapons off-duty. In fact, Greiner said, the wife of the officer involved in the shooting has a concealed weapon permit.

Police identified the mall's shooting victims — five who died and four others recovering from injuries in area hospitals.
Killed were:
• Teresa Ellis, 29.
• Brad Frantz, 25.
• Kirsten Hinckley, 15.
• Vanessa Quinn, 29.
• Jeffery Walker, 53.
Wounded and hospitalized are:
• Carolyn Tuft, 43, (the mother of Kirsten Hinckley).
• Shawn Munns, 34.
• Stacy Hanson, 53.
• Alan "A.J." Walker, 16, (the son of Jeffery Walker)."

Deseret Morning News February 13, 2007
My hat goes off to Ken Hammond. Many people are grateful for his courage.

Ogden police officer hailed as a hero, says he was doing his duty
http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660195341,00.html