Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Kentucky Weapon: Handgun Offender: Shot and killed
Chief of Police Thomas Bowlin was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man who had been threatening to shoot passersby from his residence.
As Chief Bowlin attempted to locate the man in his home he was fatally shot. A posse shot and killed the suspect when he refused to surrender.
Chief Bowlin had served with the Jellico Police Department for 30 years.
Chief Bowlin's brother, Deputy Sheriff James Bowlin, was shot and killed in the line of duty on December 4th, 1932, while serving with the Whitley County, Kentucky, Sheriff's Office.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-0D39A27C- 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
30 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Bowlin gave the Jellico Police Department 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Jellico community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Bowlin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Thomas Bowlin 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Jellico Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Bowlin's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Bowlin Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Bowlin is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Bowlin was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Jellico Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
