Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Paul G. Thomas, Jr. was mortally wounded when he attempted to stop an armed robbery while off duty. He was visiting his father at his father's place of business at 556 West 103rd Street. While in a rear office, he heard two men enter and begin to scuffle with his father. Patrolman Thomas rushed to his father's aid and struggled with the gunmen. The assailants fired their weapons and wounded Patrolman Thomas. Patrolman Thomas was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds 16 days later. On April 28, 1972, two men, 17 and 18, were arrested for armed robbery and murder of the 22-year-old manager of a White Castle Restaurant on 111th Street. Both had been released earlier, under bond, from the Cook County Jail for robbing and severely beating a woman. Patrolman Thomas' mother and father identified the two as their son's killers. The judge dropped the charges against one in the murder of the manager and acquitted the gunman after his family testified he was at home with them that night. A month later the same judge dropped the charges in Patrolman Thomas' case.
Survivors
Patrolman Thomas was survived by his parents, wife, son, and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-C00488E0- 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.
Patrolman Thomas gave the Chicago Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Thomas.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Paul G. Thomas Jr. 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul G. Thomas Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Paul G. Thomas Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul G. Thomas Jr. is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul G. Thomas Jr. was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
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