Thomas J. McFadden

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 29, 1865

Age 23

The Vigil Panel 3 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 90

Incident

Patrolman Thomas McFadden was shot and killed when he and other officers were investigating the sounds of gunfire they heard along Fourth Street near the Ohio River levee.

The officers encountered two soldiers in the area carrying rifles with fixed bayonets. At least one of the soldiers opened fire on the officers when they were confronted, and Patrolman McFadden was fatally wounded.

One of the soldiers was convicted of manslaughter in military court and sentenced to serve five years in the military penitentiary in Albany, New York.

Patrolman McFadden is believed to have been buried in Dayton, Ohio. Patrolman McFadden was a Civil War Veteran, having served the Union as a Corporal in the 2nd Infantry Kentucky Regiment, Company H.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-E7E73E6D
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.
Patrolman McFadden served with the Louisville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville 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

Department Louisville Police Department

Location Louisville, KY

Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 29, 1865

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Thomas J. McFadden served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Thomas J. McFadden 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Louisville Police Department, 51 of 91 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56% of this agency's fallen.

Louisville Police Department

of 91 officers

56% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious