Monday, March 10, 2008

OFFICER A. B. HUNT KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY


Motorcycle Officer A.B. Hunt May 1, 1932, Age 31, 2 years service
Officer Hunt was killed in shoot out with five bandits in the 700 block of Buncombe Street at the Triangle Service Station. Officer Hunt (in uniform) accompanied two detectives to investigate two suspicious subjects who were in a taxi. (There had been armed robberies in the area involving hijacked taxis.) As the officers approached the taxi the subjects began firing. As the officers gained control of the subjects three accomplices drove up in another vehicle and fired on the officers with a full automatic weapon. One subject approached Officer Hunt and shot him twice with a pistol, killing him instantly. The remaining detectives were out of ammunition and were unable to return fire as the five subjects escaped. Four of the five suspects were later captured, but only one shooter was convicted and given a life sentence.

CHIEF HAMMOND RETURNS TO GREENVILLE


Chief (of Detectives) Hammond decided to return to the area of his birth, he is a native of Pickens County-in 1920 and Feb. 20 of that year he entered police service here. He spent three years with the New York police force and he had been a Texas Ranger for three years. He had also resigned his commission in the Air Corps after World War I.
"Popularity means success. If the law abiding citizens all have a good word for a police department and its individual member, half the battle is won because the moral force exerted through goodwill is invaluable." Greenville News, June 26, 1962, pg 18b

CHIEF P. P. OAKES

Chief P. P. Oakes 1956-1968