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Officer

Thomas R. Graham

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch October 12, 1965

Age 38

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 221 · Column 3 · Line 9 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 58

Incident

Officer Thomas Graham was shot and killed with his own service weapon after a burglary suspect gained control of his revolver. While the prisoner was in the basement of police headquarters, a struggle ensued between the two when Officer Graham was shot in the head. He was transported to General Hospital where he died from his wound nearly three hours later. The suspect, 28, fled the scene but was apprehended two days later after police received a tip on where he was hiding. He was committed at Beatty Mental Hospital. In 1969 he was deemed fit to stand trial, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. In 1972 he received a new trial and was again sentenced to life. In 1986 he had a parole hearing. The outcome is unknown. Officer Graham had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for nine years. He was a US Navy veteran of World War II and the recipient of the Victory Medal and five Bronze Stars.

Survivors

Officer Graham was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Thomas is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Graham gave the Indianapolis Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Indianapolis Police Department

Type Other

Location Indianapolis, Marion County, IN

Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 12, 1965

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

Thomas R. Graham served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

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.

Compare against

Time

In 1965, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Thomas was 38. 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 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded