Paul G. Thomas Jr.
Agency patch
Patrolman

Paul G. Thomas Jr.

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch November 20, 1970
Age 43
Tour of Duty 15 yrs 6 mo
Badge 5620
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Paul G. Thomas, Jr. was mortally wounded when he attempted to stop an armed robbery while off duty. He was visiting his father at his father's place of business at 556 West 103rd Street. While in a rear office, he heard two men enter and begin to scuffle with his father. Patrolman Thomas rushed to his father's aid and struggled with the gunmen. The assailants fired their weapons and wounded Patrolman Thomas. Patrolman Thomas was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds 16 days later. On April 28, 1972, two men, 17 and 18, were arrested for armed robbery and murder of the 22-year-old manager of a White Castle Restaurant on 111th Street. Both had been released earlier, under bond, from the Cook County Jail for robbing and severely beating a woman. Patrolman Thomas' mother and father identified the two as their son's killers. The judge dropped the charges against one in the murder of the manager and acquitted the gunman after his family testified he was at home with them that night. A month later the same judge dropped the charges in Patrolman Thomas' case.

Survivors

Patrolman Thomas was survived by his parents, wife, son, and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Patrolman Thomas gave the Chicago Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Thomas.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 20, 1970
Tour of Duty 15 yrs 6 mo
Age 43
Badge Number 5620
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Paul 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Paul was 43. 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. Paul had served 15.5 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%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Paul among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Paul G. Thomas Jr.

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch November 20, 1970

Where the Name Is Cut

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