Roll of Honor
Thomas Odean Gillilan
Incident
Corporal Gillilan was shot when a man he had stopped for speeding on U.S. 331 south in Crenshaw County, overpowered him, took his pistol, and shot him. He died three days later at a Montgomery hospital. The 22-year-old suspect was apprehended, convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to life. He was denied parole on July 25, 1990.
Survivors
Corporal Gillilan, who had served in the Korean War, was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-CECBD7EF- 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
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.
Corporal Gillilan gave the Alabama Department of Public Safety 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Alabama, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Thomas Odean Gillilan served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Corporal Thomas Odean Gillilan 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Alabama Department of Public Safety, 7 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Odean Gillilan's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Odean Gillilan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Odean Gillilan is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Odean Gillilan was killed by officer's handgun.
Military Service
Thomas Odean Gillilan served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Thomas Odean Gillilan’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from Alabama Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
