Gail Denise Thomas
Agency patch
Senior Police Officer

Gail Denise Thomas

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA
Felonious
End of Watch January 24, 2012
Age 46
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 161 ›
Gender Female

Incident

Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas was struck and killed by a drunk driver while assisting other officers with a traffic incident on the exit ramp from southbound I-75 to northbound I-85.

She had just exited her vehicle when she was struck. The drunk driver was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, DUI, and reckless driving. He was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Officer Thomas had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

She is survived by one child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-7DFE4F68
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Senior Police Officer Thomas gave the Atlanta Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Police Officer Thomas.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Atlanta, Fulton County, GA
Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 24, 2012
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 46
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Senior Police Officer Gail Denise 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Atlanta Police Department, 58 of 88 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.9% of this agency's fallen.

Atlanta Police Department
58
of 88 officers
65.9% Felonious
GA — Statewide
549
of 905 officers
60.7% 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. Gail Denise Thomas's cause is highlighted.

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

How Gail Denise Thomas Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gail Denise Thomas is highlighted in Jan.

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. Gail Denise Thomas was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

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

Incident Location