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Thomas J. DeRue Sr.
Agency patch
Corporal

Thomas J. DeRue Sr.

South Bend Police Department — South Bend, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch November 14, 1974
Age 28
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 168
The Vigil Panel 251 · Column 2 · Line 12 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Corporal Thomas DeRue was shot and killed while responding to an armed robbery at Jennifer's at 119 W. Colfax Avenue in South Bend. As Corporal DeRue arrived on the scene around 1:00 p.m., the suspect exited the business and shot him before he could exit his patrol car. Corporal DeRue was shot once in the chest and once in the abdomen and died from internal bleeding at the scene. The suspect was later apprehended. The suspect, who was wanted for a parole violation, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life. His sentence was later reduced to 15 to 25 years, which he served. Since his release, he has been in and out of prison for eight other felonies. His last sentence was for seven years on October 9, 2013, for stealing meat from a South Bend grocery store. Corporal DeRue had served with the South Bend Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal DeRue gave the South Bend Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the South Bend community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal DeRue.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department South Bend Police Department
Type Other
Location South Bend, IN
Platform Identity sbpd.stjoseph.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 14, 1974
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 28
Badge Number 168
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Thomas is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1974, 162 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 28. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

South Bend Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Corporal Thomas J. DeRue Sr.

South Bend Police Department · End of Watch November 14, 1974

Where the Name Is Cut

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