Former lawmaker, police chief Elmer Hagner dies
By MARY P. FELTER Community News Editor
Elmer F. Hagner Jr., a former county police chief, state legislator and
decorated World War II veteran, died of natural causes on Wednesday at
Anne Arundel Medical Center. He was 85.
"He really did serve his community," said Sen. John Astle, D-Annapolis,
who became chairman of the county delegation in the General Assembly
after Mr. Hagner held the job for six terms.
A Democrat from Annapolis, Mr. Hagner "was a mentor and very open. This
place should be filled with people of his character," Mr. Astle said.
When Mr. Hagner announced his retirement after 16 years of service on
the last day of session on April 4, 1986, he told The Capital, "I've
always kind of felt I was a people's candidate. When people had
problems (with) housing, food, the kind of things that go through here
that you never hear about, we help them."
Born April 7, 1919, in Baltimore, Mr. Hagner was a radio operator and
tail gunner with the Army Air Corps, where he completed 47 combat
missions.
He served with the 12th Air Force in Europe and North Africa and was
awarded several Bronze stars and the Distinguished Flying Cross with
four oak leaf clusters for his actions, including the initial raid on
the Ploesti oil fields in Poland.
After Mr. Hagner returned from World War II, he joined the county
police, serving for 24 years and rising to chief.
A 1955 graduate of the FBI National Academy, he was past president of
the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association.
"Chief Hagner had a reputation as a pro-
fessional chief who moved the department into the modern era of
policing and professionalism," said current Chief P. Thomas Shanahan.
"He was thought of as a fair man who was genuinely concerned with the
welfare of the community."
After serving as chief from 1964 to 1969, Mr. Hagner decided to run for
political office.
"He was an understated person," said Gerald Winegrad of Annapolis, who
served as a delegate, then state senator during Mr. Hagner's time in
office.
"I was a young whippersnapper, and he worked with me, especially on
capital projects for the city and annexation issues."
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Mr. Hagner was the
primary sponsor of legislation requested by the Maryland State's
Attorneys Association.
"He played a crucial role on the judiciary committee because of his
background in law enforcement and also because he's not a lawyer,"
Robert Neall, then a delegate, told The Capital upon Mr. Hagner's
retirement.
Mr. Hagner was a life member of Annapolis Elks Lodge 622, the FBI
National Academy Alumni, the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and
the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 70. He also was a member of St.
Mary's Catholic Church.
He enjoyed his family, golf and his vacation home in West Virginia.
Surviving are his wife, Anna C. Lewnes Hagner, whom he married in 1946;
two children, Darryl Hagner of Owings and Barbara L. Reardon of
Annapolis; a brother, James Hagner of Orchard Beach; a sister, Rose
Ricket of Pasadena; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Taylor Funeral
Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester St. A Mass of Christian burial will be
offered at 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 109 Duke of
Gloucester St. Entombment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.
Staff Writer Eric Hartley contributed to this story.
mfelter@capitalgazette.com
Published December 03, 2004, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 2004 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.