William A. Hammel
LAPD Chief of Police, LA County Sheriff
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William "Billy" Augustus Hammel (March 13, 1865 – January 1, 1932) served as sheriff of Los Angeles County, California, from 1898 to 1902 and again from 1907 to 1914,[1] and as chief of police of the Los Angeles Police Department for one year, six months, and 26 days in 1904–1905.[2] He was hired to replace Charles Elton.[3] Under Hammel, the LAPD used police automobiles for the first time.[3] He also added a third local police station, following up Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights divisions with a new building on Jefferson Blvd.[3] He reportedly "survived many gun battles."[1]
William A. Hammel | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | March 13, 1865 Los Angeles |
| Died | January 1, 1932 (aged 66) Los Angeles |
| Police career | |
| Country | United States |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Rank |  |
Biography
Hammel was the son of a physician, Dr. William A. Hammel, who came to San Francisco in 1849 for the California gold rush.[4][5] He was born in Los Angeles but was raised and went to school in the San Jose area, where he married Catherine McKiernan, daughter of a storied California mountain man.[6] He went to college at Santa Clara University and lived in Arizona briefly before moving back to Los Angeles.[4]
After a career as a grocery man, W. A. Hammel was first elected sheriff in 1898, serving a four-year term that ended with his defeat by William White.[4] He was elected sheriff again in 1906.[4] He was reportedly given "considerable credit" for arresting the brothers behind the 1910 Los Angeles Times bombing.[4][7] He retired from law enforcement for good in 1913.[8] At the time of his death one newspaper reported, "His most renowned exploit was when, singlehanded, he outrode a Mexican in a horse race to the border, shot it out with him and brought him, wounded, back to Los Angeles to face a trial for murder."[1]
The Times still thought highly of him some 20 years later: "Mr. Hammel took a leading part In the fight against lawlessness and crime, and to his straight hitting and incorruptible honor the county of Los Angeles owes an eternal debt of gratitude."[8]
The cause of death was heart attack.[1] He was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery.[5] He was survived by a daughter who lived in Beverly Hills, Mrs. Phyllis Staley, wife of Gerald Staley.[1][7]