Roll of Honor
Incident
A teenager had stolen firearms and ammunition from a local warehouse and hidden them in a box in his cellar. The box was booby trapped, and when the lid was opened it exploded, killing Sergeant Dale.
Killed while searching a house in Rochdale, when a booby-trapped box exploded as the lid was opened, after a teenager had stolen firearms and ammunition from a local warehouse and hidden them in his cellar. Another officer, Inspector Henry Saul Stables, died from his injuries the following day.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-RBP-2E7506E4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 8, 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.
Sergeant Dale served with the Rochdale Borough Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Dale.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Thomas William Dale 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 ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Rochdale Borough Police, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas William Dale's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas William Dale Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas William Dale is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Rochdale Borough Police are honored on badge.nw.
