Thomas P. Reilly
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Thomas P. Reilly

Sherrill Police Department — Sherrill, NY
Felonious
End of Watch September 13, 1969
Age 59
The Vigil Panel 105 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Thomas Reilly and Patrolman Robert Mumford were shot and killed while questioning a man they had pulled over at the intersection of Route 5 and Sherrill Road following a gas station robbery. The suspect then drove to a nearby home in Munnsville and forced a woman and her two daughters, ages four and six, to drive him in their car to Syracuse. He released his hostages in downtown Syracuse. Syracuse Police arrested the suspect the next day. Both officers were transported to Oneida County Hospital where Patrolman Mumford was pronounced dead and Chief Reilly died four days later. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in February 1971. On January 7, 1974, he was re-sentenced to 50 years to life. Charges of armed robbery and kidnapping were dismissed because a judge ruled the suspect was denied his right to a speedy trial. The killer died in prison in 2008.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-9C10C2C7
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Reilly served with the Sherrill Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Sherrill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Reilly.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Sherrill, Oneida County, NY
Platform Identity spd.oneida.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 13, 1969
Age 59
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Chief of Police Thomas P. Reilly 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Sherrill Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Sherrill Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% 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 P. Reilly's cause is highlighted.

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

How Thomas P. Reilly Compares

Age at Death
59
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas P. Reilly is highlighted in Sep.

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 P. Reilly was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Sherrill Police Department are honored on badge.nw.