Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia
End of Watch: Saturday, July 18, 1998
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 6 months
Badge Number: 272
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: July 18, 1998
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Thomas Hamlette was shot and killed while assisting a security guard during a scuffle at a nightclub at 1213 K Street, NW.
Officer Hamlette attempted to remove a rowdy patron from the club when the scuffle ensued. During the scuffle, Officer Hamlette's weapon discharged, catching the attention of another off-duty Metropolitan police officer who was patronizing the club. The second officer tried to intervene in the scuffle and identified himself as a police officer.
Not knowing Officer Hamlette was an officer, too, he ordered him to drop his weapon. Officer Hamlette turned around and was then shot by the other officer.
Officer Hamlette's brother-in-law, Officer Anthony Simms of the Metropolitan Police Department, was killed in 1996 after being struck by a vehicle while making a traffic stop.
Officer Hamlette had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 18 months, assigned to the Third District. He was survived by his mother, father, who retired from the Metropolitan Police Department, and sister, who served with the department at the time.