Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Molly Thomas-Bowden of the Columbia Police Department succumbed on January 10, 2005, to gunshot wounds sustained during a traffic stop one month earlier — wounds that proved unsurvivable despite her fight to live.
During the stop, Officer Thomas-Bowden was shot in the shoulder. As she moved to the rear of the suspect's vehicle seeking cover, the suspect exited and shot her in the neck. When she fell, he fired twice more, striking her neck a second time.
The following morning, the same suspect shot and wounded another Columbia officer conducting surveillance at the suspect's mother's home. The suspect then took his own life.
Officer Thomas-Bowden had served the Columbia Police Department for three and a half years.
Survivors
She is survived by her husband — himself an officer with the Columbia Police Department — two stepsons, her parents, and a brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-6C3C1367- 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.
Police Officer Thomas-Bowden gave the Columbia Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Thomas-Bowden.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Molly Suzanne Thomas-Bowden 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Columbia Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Molly Suzanne Thomas-Bowden's cause is highlighted.
How Molly Suzanne Thomas-Bowden Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Molly Suzanne Thomas-Bowden is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Molly Suzanne Thomas-Bowden was killed by handgun; .380 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Columbia Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
