Thaddeaus James Stevenson
Officer

Thaddeaus James Stevenson

Fort Worth Police Department — Fort Worth, TX
Felonious
End of Watch October 25, 1961
Age 71
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
The Vigil Panel 96 ›
Gender Male

Incident

On August 30, 1951, Officers Thaddeaus Stevenson and H.L. Stephenson were on routine patrol when they were ambushed by a man with a shotgun. Officer Stevenson was shot in the right side of his face, neck, and right arm with pellets. At least one of the pellets struck him in the jugular vein. He was taken to a local hospital where he was listed in serious condition. Officer Stevenson returned to work on light duty on November 6, 1951 but experienced difficulty in using his right arm, developed hypertension, and suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. On May 28, 1952 he could no longer work and suffered a stroke on June 2, 1952 which paralyzed the right side of his body. In 1955 he was declared permanently disabled in the line of duty due the effects of the gunshot wound. On October 25, 1961, Officer Stevenson died at home.

Stevenson was buried in the Emerald Hills Cemetery in Kennedale.

On August 30, 1951, Officers Thaddeaus Stevenson and H.L. Stephenson were on routine patrol when they were ambushed by a man with a shotgun. Officer Stevenson was shot in the right side of his face, neck, and right arm with pellets. At least one of the pellets struck him in the jugular vein. He was taken to a local hospital where he was listed in serious condition. Officer Stevenson returned to work on light duty on November 6, 1951 but experienced difficulty in using his right arm, developed hypertension, and suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. On May 28, 1952 he could no longer work and suffered a stroke on June 2, 1952 which paralyzed the right side of his body. In 1955 he was declared permanently disabled in the line of duty due the effects of the gunshot wound. On October 25, 1961, Officer Stevenson died at home.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5A90C141
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

28 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Stevenson gave the Fort Worth Police Department 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Stevenson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Fort Worth, TX
Platform Identity fwpd.tarrant.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 25, 1961
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
Age 71
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun

Officer Thaddeaus James Stevenson 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Fort Worth Police Department, 33 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.9% of this agency's fallen.

Fort Worth Police Department
33
of 59 officers
55.9% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% 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. Thaddeaus James Stevenson's cause is highlighted.

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

How Thaddeaus James Stevenson Compares

Age at Death
71
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thaddeaus James Stevenson is highlighted in Oct.

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. Thaddeaus James Stevenson was killed by shotgun.

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