David Madison Thomas
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

David Madison Thomas

Felonious
End of Watch October 13, 1921
Age 69
The Vigil Panel 42 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Mack Thomas succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained 12 years earlier on August 25, 1909, in Taylor County.

A Taylor County constable had obtained a warrant for a goat herder who had brutally beat his 9-year-old stepson on a farm five miles south of Potosi. The constable requested assistance from Deputy Thomas after being warned that the man had threatened to kill anyone who attempted to arrest him.

The constable, Deputy Thomas, and a posse went to the man's farm to serve the warrant. Deputy Thomas and the constable approached the house and called out to the man while the posse concealed themselves nearby. The man opened the door and fired a shotgun at the officers, striking Deputy Thomas in the face and the constable in the leg. The man then fled into the nearby hills before surrendering three days later. He was initially convicted of assault to murder but the case was reversed before he was convicted of a reduced charge of assault. He was fined $50.

Deputy Thomas lost one of his eyes as a result of the shotgun blast. He died from complications of the wound on October 13, 1921.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service (Retired) May 31st, 2024

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-EC1C84AC
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.
Deputy Sheriff Thomas served with the Callahan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Baird community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Thomas.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Baird, Callahan County, TX
Platform Identity ccso.callahan.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 13, 1921
Age 69
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun

Deputy Sheriff David Madison Thomas is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Callahan County Sheriff's Office
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Madison Thomas's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How David Madison Thomas Compares

Age at Death
69
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Madison Thomas is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Madison Thomas was killed by shotgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Callahan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.