Jesse G. Thomas
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Jesse G. Thomas

Felonious
End of Watch February 20, 1922
Age 37
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 42 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Thomas was shot and killed as he and two officers served a vagrancy warrant on a mentally ill suspect. The officers shot and killed the suspect. Deputy Thomas had served with the agency for 4 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-5284E978
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.
Deputy Sheriff Thomas gave the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham 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 Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity jcso.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 20, 1922
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Deputy Sheriff Jesse G. 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 15 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
15
of 24 officers
62.5% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% 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. Jesse G. Thomas's cause is highlighted.

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

How Jesse G. Thomas Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jesse G. Thomas is highlighted in Feb.

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. Jesse G. Thomas was killed by gun.

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