[Archived] Alexandria Police Commemorate 80th Anniversary of the Death of Sergeant Elton Hummer

ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA SERVICES UNIT
2003 MILL ROAD
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22314-4658
703-838-4636

NEWS RELEASE
AUGUST 13, 2008 # 08-034
3:30 P.M. HILDEBRANDT

Alexandria Police Commemorate 80^th Anniversary of the Death of Sergeant Elton Hummer

On Monday, August 18, at 10:00 A.M., the Alexandria Police Department will hold a wreath-laying ceremony in the 200 block of South Alfred Street to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of the death of Sergeant Elton Hummer. Sergeant Hummer, 30, was killed in the line of duty on August 18, 1928, and his murder was never solved. Members of the public are also invited to attend.

The Alexandria Historical Society, Historic Alexandria Resource Commission and Old Town Civic Association recently submitted a proposal to City Council to have the alley where Sergeant Hummer was killed named Hummer Alley.

Sergeant Hummer was killed in the line of duty just a year after joining the force. On August 17, 1927, Elton B. Hummer became an Alexandria police officer. He was sworn in by the deputy clerk of court, issued badge number 15 and soon began making arrests for larcenies, assaults and prohibition violations. Officer Hummer promoted to the rank of sergeant on June 1, 1928. As Sergeant Hummer began his midnight shift on August 18, 1928, he said goodnight to his parents and left his home. About an hour later, he was on foot in the same neighborhood, checking the outlying beats.  Witnesses reported hearing two men talking in the alley next to 224 South Alfred Street.  Two shots rang out in close succession and a third followed. Neighbors ran to see what had happened and found Sergeant Hummer critically injured on the pavement. Sergeant Hummer’s weapon was still near his hand and he was barely alive. He had been shot in the chest and groin, and when he arrived at Alexandria Hospital less than two blocks away he was pronounced dead.

Alexandria has lost 18 law enforcement officers in the line of duty – a constable, a night watchman, a deputy and 15 police officers.  Sergeant Hummer’s murder is the only unsolved case.