Philip Bruce Mathis

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 26, 1985

Age 38

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

The Vigil Panel 129 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 87

Incident

Officer Mathis was shot and killed while moonlighting as a security guard at Lenox Square Mall at 3393 Peachtree Road North East in Atlanta. Around 8:30 p.m., he was shot three times as he entered a storage room and surprised a possible burglar. The suspect was arrested five months later after multiple tips. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Officer Mathis was a United States Army National Guard veteran and had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, sister, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-9C1C5C7F
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.
Officer Mathis gave the Atlanta Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community, 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 Atlanta Police Department

Location Atlanta, GA

Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1985

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Life in prison

Military Service

Philip Bruce Mathis served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Philip Bruce Mathis is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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

of 88 officers

65.9% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious