Roll of Honor
Incident
Detectives Thomas Dwyer, John Shea, and James McCluskey were shot and killed while attempting to arrest two armed robbery suspects wanted for robbing an Illinois Central train. After several months of investigation, the detectives received a tip from a prison guard that he thought three ex-cons were responsible for the robbery. Five detectives went to arrest the ex-cons in a house on Pine Street where the Soldier's Memorial is currently located. As they approached, they encountered one of the ex-cons and took him into custody. Two of the detectives took this suspect to the station as the other three proceeded into the home. As the detectives entered a darkened room, they were ambushed by the other two ex-cons. Following a five-minutes shootout, the detectives and both ex-cons were fatally wounded. The ex-con who was apprehended was sentenced to 27 years in prison. On November 24, 1905, he helped stage a prison revolt in which Officers John Clay and Ephriam Allison, of the Missouri Department of Corrections, were killed. He along with two other inmates were convicted of murder and hanged on June 27, 1907.
Survivors
Detective Dwyer was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-72883652- 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.
Detective Dwyer served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Dwyer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Thomas M. Dwyer 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas M. Dwyer's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas M. Dwyer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas M. Dwyer is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas M. Dwyer was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
