Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Thomas Allen was shot and killed by the editor of a black newspaper in San Antonio during a dispute about articles the editor had written. The reporter wrote several articles that Officer Allen had mistreated women during arrests. The journalist met Officer Allen at Jennings Drug Store in the 400 block of East Sixth Street and shot him following an earlier confrontation at a nearby wagon yard. Officer Allen was part of Austin's Mounted Patrol and was the city's second African-American lawman. He was reportedly killed 30 feet from where Officer John Gaines had been killed in 1913. Officer Allen is buried in Round Rock Cemetery, Williamson County, Texas. Officer Allen served with the Austin Police Department for less than two years.
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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
You barely got started.
Police Officer Allen gave the Austin Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Allen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Thomas Allen 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 97,775 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 Austin Police Department, 12 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Allen's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Allen Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Allen is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Allen was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Austin Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
