When twenty-nine-year-old Robert Hamrick became the Police Chief of Rock Creek, Ohio, in July 1969, he knew it would be a rocky road. Eight months later, on March 10, 1970, his life came to an end on a rural road.

Chief Hamrick’s death was ruled an accident, but most Rock Creek residents were unconvinced. They were certain the group of young men who had been terrorizing the small town of five-hundred people fifty miles east of Cleveland were responsible for the Chief’s death.

The official ruling of accidental death stood for over twenty years. Today, however, the State of Ohio concurs with the residents of Rock Creek, fifty miles northeast of Cleveland. Chief Hamrick’s death is listed on the state Attorney General’s website as an “unsolved homicide,” meaning someone, and likely multiple people, have gotten away with murder for over half-a-century.

Robert Hamrick

A local motorcycle gang began wreaking havoc in Rock Creek in the late 1960s. For protection, the small town relied on the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department which, hindered by limited resources, was unable to control the gang. In response, Rock Creek’s residents, though few in number, formed their own police department in 1968.

A local motorcycle gang began wreaking havoc in Rock Creek in the late 1960s. For protection, the small town relied on the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department which, hindered by limited resources, was unable to control the gang. In response, Rock Creek’s residents, though few in number, formed their own police department in 1968.

Chief Hamrick became the third man in less than six months to take the reins of the new police force. His two predecessors had resigned after receiving threats from the motorcycle gang. Almost immediately, the new chief incurred similar abuse. Undaunted, he was determined to clean up his town.

In December 1969, five months after taking office, Chief Hamrick located a stolen Corvette in an abandoned building on the outskirts of Rock Creek. Several local residents were arrested in connection with the theft but were released on bail. All were young men believed to be members of the Rock Creek Gang.

The Hamrick home received several threatening phone calls over the following four months. The Chief took most of the calls, but on one occasion when he was not home, the caller threatened to harm his wife, Myrtle, and their three young children if her husband did not lay off the gang.

Myrtle Hamrick

Robert’s Wife

While on patrol one month later, on the evening March 10, 1970, Chief Hamrick radioed dispatch to report he was in pursuit of a car heading west out of town. After an hour-and-a-half passed with no further contact, the dispatcher requested that deputies try to locate their leader.

Four hours later, deputies Dennis Chapman and William Johnston came upon Chief Hamrick’s patrol car crashed into a tree on an isolated road just outside of Rock Creek. The car’s ignition and lights were off. Blood covered the back seat. The Chief was inside the car, semi-conscious but unable to speak. His service revolver and night stick were missing.

Six hours later, the car Chief Hamrick had been chasing was located at a nearby Sunoco gas station. The vehicle was splattered with mud and had a flat tire. The vehicle’s owner, Joyce Harvey, said she had left the car for maintenance at the gas station the previous day, surprised when she was told the car would need to be kept at the gas station overnight.  When she left, the car was clean and the tires were fine.

Sometime during the evening, the car is believed to have been stolen from the station. An employee, a known member of the Rock Creek Gang, is believed to have been among those who had harassed Chief Hamrick and his family. He had also been in trouble with the police for several unrelated incidents.

Chief Hamrick’s Car

A local woman said she overheard members of the gang bragging about wounding Chief Hamrick by forcing him off the road. She also said she heard them say they forced him out of the car after it crashed, took his gun, and beat him on the head with his night stick, and left him for dead.

Robert Hamrick died ten days later, on March 20, 1970.

Authorities were never able to connect any members of the Rock Creek Gang to the Police Chief’s death which was officially ruled an accident for over twenty years. Sometime thereafter, however, the ruling was changed to a homicide.

I could not find the names of any members of the Rock Creek Gang who are believed to have been involved in the death of Police Chief Robert Hamrick.

No Justice For The Police Chief

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127628359/robert-hamrick#

https://www.odmp.org/officer/6001-chief-of-police-robert-hamrick

SOURCES:

• Ashtabula, Ohio, Star Beacon
• Cleveland Plain-Dealer
• Ohio Attorney General Website
• Unsolved Mysteries