Thaddeus Pippin
Agency patch
Patrol Inspector

Thaddeus Pippin

Felonious
End of Watch April 21, 1927
Age 37
Tour of Duty 11 mo
The Vigil Panel 53 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrol Inspector Thad Pippin was shot and killed while tracking suspected smugglers along the Rio Grande River near the El Paso Brick Company plant one mile west of El Paso, Texas. A team of four inspectors began tracking a pack train, but were uncertain which trail the smugglers had taken. The team split up to two teams to guard two different trails. During the deployment Inspector Pippin and his partner engaged the suspects in a gunfight and Inspector Pippin was fatally wounded. His partner was also seriously wounded but survived. The other inspectors rushed to the scene to offer assistance. They were able to confiscate liquor and two burrows but no suspects were ever apprehended. Inspector Pippin had served with the United States Border Patrol for 11 months. He was survived by his mother. He was buried in Bryan, Texas.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-3D422322
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.
Patrol Inspector Pippin served with the United States Department of Labor.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Inspector Pippin.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdlisusbpfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 21, 1927
Tour of Duty 11 mo
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Patrol Inspector Thaddeus Pippin 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol, 20 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol
20
of 28 officers
71.4% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% 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. Thaddeus Pippin's cause is highlighted.

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

How Thaddeus Pippin Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thaddeus Pippin is highlighted in Apr.

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. Thaddeus Pippin was killed by shotgun.

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

Incident Location