Springfield Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Monday, October 31, 1955
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: 300
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: October 31, 1955
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Committed
Police Officer Leo Hamel was killed when he was crushed after he jumped onto the running board of a stolen tractor trailer truck that was operating recklessly on Union Street. He was attempting to get the driver to stop when he careened off the side of a parked dump truck killing Officer Hamel. Officer Hamel shot the driver five times before he was killed. The driver continued on Union Street at a speed estimated at 80 mph. He crashed into 14 cars before crashing into the Connecticut River at the end of the street. Police pulled the driver from the river after the truck sank. He was transported to a hospital in critical condition but recovered from the gunshots and other injuries.
The 35-year-old suspect was a former mental patient who had recently been released from a mental hospital after being treated for schizophrenia. He was adjudged insane and sent to the Bridgewater Mental Hospital for life. In less than a year he was released.
Officer Hamel had been with the agency for three years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, two brothers, three sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews.