Thomas Edward Goodwin
Patrolman

Thomas Edward Goodwin

Goshen Police Department — Goshen, IN
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch December 11, 1998
Age 31
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 102
The Vigil Panel 145 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Goodwin was shot and killed after responding to a shooting call at a mobile home park. Patrolman Goodwin was roping off an area at a crime scene when the suspect appeared and opened fire, striking him in the head. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died. The suspect then barricaded himself in his trailer for several hours. He was finally arrested after tear gas was fired inside. In early 1999 the man was transferred to the Indiana State Mental Hospital in order to be evaluated for his ability to stand trial. On May 6, 2005, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Patrolman Goodwin was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Goshen Police Department for eight years.

Survivors

He is survived by his sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-4C532467
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Thomas is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Goodwin gave the Goshen Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Goshen community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Goshen, Elkhart County, IN
Platform Identity gpd.elkhart.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 11, 1998
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 102
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Thomas Edward Goodwin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Thomas Edward Goodwin 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In IN, 311 of 504 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Goshen Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
IN — Statewide
311
of 504 officers
61.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Edward Goodwin's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Thomas Edward Goodwin Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Edward Goodwin is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Edward Goodwin was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Military Service

Thomas Edward Goodwin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Thomas Edward Goodwin’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Goshen Police Department are honored on badge.nw.