Joseph Benjamin Thomas

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA

Accident Veteran

End of Watch June 20, 1950

Age 32

The Vigil Panel 86 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 51

Incident

Trooper Joseph Thomas and Trooper Robert Porter were killed in an airplane accident in Allmondsville, Gloucester County, Virginia, after delivering a message to the family of a drowning victim that the woman's body had been found. The troopers had dropped a tablet containing the note in the family's yard and were attempting to ascend when the Aeronca Champion single-engine plane stalled and crashed into a yard along the York River. Trooper Thomas was piloting the airplane at the time. Trooper Thomas was a World War II veteran survived by his wife, mother, sister, and brother. His brother also served with the Virginia State Police.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-DCAD8CF9
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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.
Trooper Thomas served with the Virginia State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia, 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 Virginia State Police

Location North Chesterfield, VA

Platform Identity vsp.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 20, 1950

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Joseph Benjamin Thomas served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper Joseph Benjamin Thomas is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In VA, 203 of 654 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31% of this state's fallen.

At Virginia State Police, 32 of 52 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 61.5% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia State Police

of 52 officers

61.5% Accident

VA — Statewide

203

of 654 officers

31% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers