Thomas C. Nixon
Agency patch
Assistant City Marshal

Thomas C. Nixon

Dodge City Police Department — Dodge City, KS
Felonious
End of Watch July 21, 1884
Age 46
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Assistant Marshal Thomas Nixon was shot and killed while on foot patrol. He was ambushed and shot by a former assistant marshal with whom he had a long standing feud. The suspect was acquitted of murder charges in 1885, but reportedly killed in Texas in 1886. But know one knows for sure. Wild west legend Bat Masterson testified at his trial. Assistant Marshal Nixon had served with the agency for 11 years. He was buried in a cemetery at Dodge City Kansas which no longer exists. He was one of the most famous buffalo hunters who ever lived along with Frank H. Mayer and Buffalo Bill Cody. He was one of the first pioneers of Dodge City and owned a ranch nearby. He owned the Lady Gay Saloon in Dodge.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-FC266FAE
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Assistant City Marshal Nixon gave the Dodge City Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dodge City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Dodge City, Ford County, KS
Platform Identity dpd.ford.ks.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 21, 1884
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Assistant City Marshal Thomas C. Nixon is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Dodge City Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Dodge City Police Department
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
KS — Statewide
237
of 335 officers
70.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas C. Nixon's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Thomas C. Nixon Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

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

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas C. Nixon was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909