Roll of Honor
Incident
Assistant Chief Thomas Church was shot and killed when he and another officer attempted to arrest a man for drunkenness around 11:30 a.m.
The man resisted arrest and displayed a revolver. The two officers attempted to disarm him, but he fired, striking Assistant Chief Church in the abdomen.
Despite being mortally wounded, Assistant Chief Church returned fire and killed the suspect. The suspect had been convicted of killing Policeman William F. Campbell of the Bristol Police Department, Virginia, in 1908.
Assistant Chief Church's last request before dying was that he be buried in his uniform.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-0E6D4DC7- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Assistant Chief Church served with the Johnson City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Johnson City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Chief Church.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Assistant Chief Thomas S. Church 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 Johnson City Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas S. Church's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas S. Church Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas S. Church is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas S. Church was killed by handgun; revolver.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Johnson City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
