Incident
Collapsed and died of heart failure while on foot patrol at Crook.
Collapsed and died of heart failure while on foot patrol in Crook.
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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Constable Dent served with the Durham County Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Dent.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Durham County Constabulary has lost 29 officers; 7 of them lost to illness.
Thomas is one of 704 officers lost to illness in ENG, 25.3% of the 2,786 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 884 officers lost to illness in United Kingdom, 23.3% of the 3,791 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1986, 1 officer at Durham County Constabulary was lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 6 years on record. The heaviest was 1897, with 2.
In 1986, 4 officers in ENG were lost to illness, the 59th heaviest of 181 years on record. The heaviest was 1915, with 16.
In 1986, 6 officers in United Kingdom were lost to illness, the 46th heaviest of 185 years on record. The heaviest was 1915, with 18.
In 1986, 9 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 52nd heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Thomas was 51. Of the 7 lost to illness at Durham County Constabulary whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 54.5; the middle age was 47.
Thomas was 51. Of the 687 lost to illness in ENG whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 49; the middle age was 43.
Thomas was 51. Of the 858 lost to illness in United Kingdom whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 50; the middle age was 43.
Thomas was 51. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49.
When
January holds 14.3% of these deaths at Durham County Constabulary; July holds the most, 42.9%. Wednesdays: 14.3%.
January holds 10.5% of these deaths in ENG, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
January holds 10.3% of these deaths in United Kingdom, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
January holds 9.9% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Wednesdays: 13.6%.
How
Illness deaths account for 24.1% of all 29 deaths at Durham County Constabulary, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 25.3% of all 2,786 deaths in ENG, the 2nd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 23.3% of all 3,791 deaths in United Kingdom, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Durham County Constabulary has 29 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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John Cruickshank May 1, 1868
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Fred William Ive Apr 2, 1878
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William Smith Feb 23, 1884
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George Farrow Nov 21, 1884
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James Stobart Apr 23, 1887
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Silvester Walton Jan 9, 1888
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Joseph Scott May 31, 1888
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Robert Bennett Jul 1, 1897
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John Walton Jul 11, 1897
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Joseph William Bowes Jul 28, 1906
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William Dougall Murphy Dec 2, 1909
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James Elliott Jun 21, 1918
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George Robert Johnson Feb 20, 1925
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Robert Little Dec 14, 1930
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Smith Storey Oct 5, 1932
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Henry Lawson Mar 4, 1935
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Patrick O’Malley Sep 30, 1935
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William Ralph Shiell Mar 1, 1940
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Robert Reay May 1, 1942
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Samuel Edgell May 3, 1942
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Matthew Slack Mar 12, 1943
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Robert Swan Jul 19, 1945
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Thomas Geary Oct 2, 1952
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Thomas Nichol Brown May 15, 1956
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Arthur James Coote Jun 9, 1957
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Stanley Woodward Oct 13, 1958
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John Parkin Nov 15, 1962
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David Roe Mar 31, 1966
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Thomas Dent
Jan 15, 1986
Where the Name Is Cut
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from Durham County Constabulary are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.