[1] He was a retired Sheriff of Los Angeles County when he was hired to replace Charles Elton.

[2] Hammel was the son of a physician who came to San Francisco in 1849 for the California gold rush.

[3] After a career as a grocery man, W. A. Hammel was first elected sheriff in 1898 and then again in 1906.

[3] He was reportedly given "considerable credit" for arresting the brothers behind the 1910 Los Angeles Times bombing.

[4] The Times still thought highly of him some 20 years later: "Mr. Hammel took a leading part In the fight against lawlessness and crime, and to his straight hitting and incorruptible honor the county of Los Angeles owes an eternal debt of gratitude.