Thomas Alonzo Nicholson

Lakeland Police Dept. — Lakeland, FL

Felonious

End of Watch March 27, 1932

The Vigil Panel 64 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Nicholson and Patrolman William Barnett were shot and killed after they responded to a domestic disturbance in North Lakeland. The two officers were struggling with two men when they shot and killed both officers. Other officers arrived at the scene and took both men into custody. It was later determined that both suspects used the same gun and each killed one officer. Both suspects, 21 and 66, were convicted of Patrolman Nicholson's and Patrolman Barnett's murder and sentenced to death. Both appealed and were granted new trials. The older suspect was again convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He applied for a pardon on February 7, 1936. At the other suspect's second trial a witness said he saw him with a pistol but said he never actually saw him shoot Patrolman Barnett. Several other witnesses testified that he told them that he did kill Patrolman Barnett. He was acquitted. The jury said there was not enough evidence for a conviction. On June 13, 1934, he was arrested for carrying concealed weapons and was in a very intoxicated condition. Because of other recent problems with him, the state sanity commission declared him insane an he was committed at the Tallahassee State Mental Hospital. He escaped from the Chattahoochee Mental Hospital along with another inmate on July 12, 1942. Both robbed and beat a man, 41, to death in Levy County, Florida, and were recaptured. Both were arrested along with his wife and another couple in Orlando. He admitted to the murder and then admitted to four unsolved murders in Miami which he was charged with. He was declared sane and executed in the electric chair on November 22, 1943.

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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.
Patrolman Nicholson served with the Lakeland Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lakeland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Nicholson.

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

Agency

Department Lakeland Police Dept.

Location Lakeland, FL

Platform Identity lpd.polk.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 27, 1932

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender One acquitted; One sentenced to life

Patrolman Thomas Alonzo 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Lakeland Police Dept., 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Lakeland Police Dept.

of 6 officers

50% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious