Thomas F. Henry, Sr.
Agency patch
Detective

Thomas F. Henry, Sr.

Bel-Ridge Police Department — Bel-Ridge, MO
Cardiac Veteran
End of Watch August 29, 2000
Age 50
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
The Vigil Panel 147 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Thomas Henry suffered a fatal heart attack while chasing a suspect.

The officer and his partner attempted to serve several warrants on the suspect when he fled. After a foot pursuit, the suspect was apprehended. Detective Henry collapsed after suffering a heart attack shortly after the arrest. He was transported to a local hospital where he lapsed into a coma. He remained unconscious until his death 24 days later.

Detective Henry was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient during the Vietnam War. He had served with the Bel-Ridge Police Department for eight years. He had served in law enforcement for 26 years, having previously served with the Calverton Park Police Department and St. John Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-13B6AA51
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 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.
Detective Henry gave the Bel-Ridge Police Department 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bel-Ridge community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Bel-Ridge, MO
Platform Identity belrpd.stlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 2000
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac
Weapon Person
Offender Apprehended

Military Service

Thomas F. Henry, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Detective Thomas F. Henry, Sr. is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MO, 32 of 813 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.9% of this state's fallen.

Bel-Ridge Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Cardiac
MO — Statewide
32
of 813 officers
3.9% Cardiac
Nationwide
1,306
of 32,508 officers
4% Cardiac

National Cause Distribution

How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas F. Henry, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Thomas F. Henry, Sr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
50
This officer
Avg for Cardiac: 48.6 years
Years of Service
26
This officer
Avg for Cardiac: 15.6 years

Offender Outcome

Apprehended

When Cardiac Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas F. Henry, Sr. is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
124
Feb
105
Mar
99
Apr
116
May
115
Jun
95
Jul
94
Aug
104
Sep
109
Oct
121
Nov
113
Dec
111