Hundreds pay respect to fallen Headland officer Hammond

EUFAULA — It began with a chilling a capella version of Amazing Grace.

It continued with Attorney General Troy King holding the badge of slain officer Dexter Hammond in his hand.

“He was not a hero because of the way he died,” King told the crowd of about 1,000 mourners at Hammond’s funeral Tuesday. “He was a hero because of the way he lived.”

Law enforcement personnel from as far away as Autauga County and Vincent in Alabama, Lumpkin in Georgia and Escambia and Walton counties in Florida and most points in between, converged on the Eufaula Community Center to honor Hammond and his family. Some 151 law enforcement vehicles lined up on Lake Drive, while at least 50 more parked near the center. Hundreds of officers, deputies, troopers, investigators, military personnel and emergency responders lined up in front of the center as friends and family passed by.

The auditorium of the center was completely full with mourners standing four-deep in the back, and along the walking track suspended around the auditorium.

When it was over, officers formed a gauntlet as the flag-draped casket was carried out of the building. The sound of the revving engine of Hammond’s beloved Harley Davidson broke the silence. A friend led the funeral procession to the graveside on Hammond’s Harley, his leather vest resting on the plexiglass shield.

“All of Alabama mourns today,” King said following the service.

As the procession left the community center and headed toward the grave site, a color guard from nearby Eufaula High School presented colors and saluted. Another group of residents across Lake Drive held the American flag and watched as blue lights flashed by.

Hammond, a Headland police officer, died Friday when he responded to a call for backup due to a disturbance at Granberry Crossroads near Headland. He was shot and killed by Fred Davis, who had already shot Henry County Sheriff’s deputy Ted Yost. Davis was then shot and killed by other law enforcement.

Yost was recently upgraded from critical to fair condition at Southeast Alabama Medical Center.

Doug Valeska, district attorney for Houston and Henry counties, said Hammond’s name will be inscribed on a fallen officer’s memorial, dedicated to officers who have died in the line of duty in the two counties.