Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia
End of Watch: Friday, November 1, 1946
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 793
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: November 1, 1946
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Not available
Detective Harry Hamilton was killed when he and his partner attempted to arrest a suspect in a stolen car. Detective Hamilton and his partner were approaching the occupied stolen auto, which was parked near Q Street and Florida Avenue, NE, when the driver spotted the detectives and proceeded to drive off.
The detectives grabbed onto the sides of the auto and held on as the car accelerated straight into a tractor-trailer near the intersection of Florida Avenue and New York Avenue, NE. Detective Hamilton died from a broken back and fractured skull.
Detective Hamilton was survived by his wife and three children.