Utah Senate honors officers who responded to Trolley Square shooting; Ogden officer Ken Hammond receives medal

The Utah Senate, resolved into a committee of the whole, read formal legislative citations and presented medals to Ogden City Officer Ken (Kenneth) Hammond and Salt Lake City officers Sgt. Andrew Oblad, Sgt. Joshua Sharman, Detective Dustin Marshall and Detective Brett Olsen for their response to the Feb. 12, 2007, Trolley Square shooting.

Madam reading clerk read the citations recounting the events: Officer Hammond, off duty and armed, exchanged fire with the suspect in the mall and helped pin the gunman inside a store until SWAT officers arrived; Salt Lake City officers entered and engaged the shooter, who was fatally shot. The citation noted multiple fatalities and injuries during the roughly six-minute spree and praised the officers' rapid, coordinated response.

Officer Hammond accepted the honor and offered condolences to victims and gratitude to fellow officers and his department. "I just wanna express my heartfelt condolences to the victims of that tragic event ... I feel bad that I didn't react sooner and prevent more loss of lives, but I am also very thankful that I was there, that I was prepared, and that I took the proper actions," Hammond said.

Salt Lake City officials and the police chief also addressed the body, emphasizing that many officers responded that night and that the five recognized officers represent those collective efforts. Senators from across the chamber thanked the officers and their families and presented a unit citation.

The recognition concluded with brief tributes from multiple senators and the Senate dissolved the committee of the whole and recessed briefly before returning to regular business.