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Town Marshal

Thomas Nicholson

Gowrie Police Department — Gowrie, IA

Felonious

End of Watch July 11, 1908

Age 34

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 22 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Town Marshal Thomas Nicholson was shot and killed by a young man he had attempted to take into custody earlier in the day. Town Marshal Nicholson had witnessed the youth having an altercation with a stranger who had just disembarked from a Rock Island train and had placed him under arrest. However, the youth was able to break away from Town Marshal Nicholson and flee back to his home, where he retrieved a Winchester rifle. He then sought out Town Marshal Nicholson and opened fire on him, fatally wounding him.

The 22-year-old suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on December 2, 1908. On March 18, 1920, his sentence was commuted to 40 years.

Town Mashal Nicholson was survived by his wife and five children.

Survivors

Town Mashal Nicholson was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-081E9854
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Town Marshal Nicholson gave the Gowrie Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gowrie community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Nicholson.

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

Agency

Department Gowrie Police Department

Location Gowrie, IA

Platform Identity gpd.webster.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 11, 1908

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Rifle; Winchester

Offender Sentenced to life

Town Marshal Thomas Nicholson 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 IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Gowrie Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% 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 Nicholson'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 Nicholson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Nicholson is highlighted in Jul.

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 Nicholson was killed by rifle; winchester.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518