Roll of Honor
Thomas J. Sullivan
Incident
Location: Texas Weapon: Officer's handgun Offender: Not available
Special Officer Thomas Sullivan was shot and killed while attempting to remove three men who were trespassing on railroad property in the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad yards in El Paso, Texas.
Officer Sullivan approached the men after observing them sitting under a freight car. He was attacked by the men when he told them they weren't allowed to be there. One of the men disarmed him and shot him several times with his service revolver.
Two police officers who were nearby heard the shots and located Officer Sullivan. They took him to a Hotel Dieu hospital where he died several hours later.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-F52F96B8- 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.
Special Officer Sullivan served with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Sullivan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer Thomas J. Sullivan 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 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 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, 24 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas J. Sullivan's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas J. Sullivan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas J. Sullivan is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas J. Sullivan was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
