ASU praises Jamyron Hope as an outstanding graduate and advocate for criminal justice program

Jamyron Hope’s alma mater praised the Selma police officer who was shot to death on Nov. 22.

Alabama State University sent out a news release praising Hope, a 2020 ASU graduate, for his work as a student and supporter of the university.

ASU professor Dr. Delilah Dotremon, who was Hope's advisor and mentor in the department of criminal justice and social sciences, said she is shocked and saddened to learn of his passing.

“He was an extraordinary person who I got to know very well as he worked for me as a work study student in our department,” Dotremon said. “Jamyron was my shadow, and he helped the University in many ways that included working to put on the ASU Criminal Justice Career Fair every year. He also participated in Dr. Quinton Ross's President's Bus Tour and also accompanied me many times as we went to Selma to recruit students to attend the University from his old high school.”

She explained that Hope went far beyond what many students do while earning their degrees.

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“In many ways, Jamyron Hope contributed his time and talents to making the ASU Department of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences outstanding on our campus in a myriad of ways,” Dotremon said. “I was so proud to see him graduate in May 2020, as he was part of the first pandemic class to go through that experience. Not only was Jam a good student, but he was a people person, and he knew and had friends among his fellow students, as well as with ASU Board of Trustee members, campus administrators, and he had friends in just about every corner of the ASU campus.”

Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford said in the news release that the entire department is mourning the loss of ASU’s alumnus. He shared that Hope actually made the 911 call to police after being mortally wounded and identified the suspect who was taken into custody immediately at the scene of the shooting. The suspect is being held without bond in the Dallas County Detention Facility. The chief explained that Hope’s homicide is still under investigation by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

“Officer Hope did an outstanding job as a crime scene technician who within his three short years on the police force helped process evidence and crime scenes for over 40 homicides that helped bring many murderers to justice,” Fulford said. “It is ironic that now he is the very subject of a similar investigation; however, we know that eventually justice will be served.”

Selma City Council President Warren “Billy” Young noted that Hope was providing security at the last city council meeting. “You never know when it will be the last time you talk to someone,” Young said. “Take the time to be kind to one another, to pass kind words to one another. We certainly did not know that would be the last time we’d see Officer Hope.”

Funeral services will be held Dec. 3 at 12:30 p.m. in Selma at the Ellwood Community Church, located at 1 Bell Road with burial following in Pineview Memory Gardens, 5171 Alabama Highway 22 in Valley Grande, Ala. Selma's Miller Funeral is in charge of the arrangements.