Thomas H. Jenkins
Agency patch
Detective

Thomas H. Jenkins

Charlotte Police Department — Charlotte, NC
Felonious
End of Watch October 21, 1929
Age 48
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 58 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Jenkins was shot and killed while he and other officers tried to quell a disturbance involving four men at First and Davidson Streets. While making an arrest one of the men grabbed a riot gun held by another officer. As they struggled for possession of the gun it discharged striking Detective Jenkins in the abdomen. The suspect escaped. Detective Jenkins had been with the agency for five years. Before that he was a deputy sheriff for 15 years with the York County Sheriff's Department, South Carolina.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, and a daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-1C3A9CA2
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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Jenkins gave the Charlotte Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Jenkins.

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

Agency

Location Charlotte, NC
Platform Identity charpd.mecklenburg.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 21, 1929
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender At large

Detective Thomas H. Jenkins 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Charlotte Police Department, 13 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.2% of this agency's fallen.

Charlotte Police Department
13
of 18 officers
72.2% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas H. Jenkins'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 H. Jenkins Compares

Age at End of Watch
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

At large

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas H. Jenkins is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas H. Jenkins was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518