Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Patrolman

Tobin Craig Thomas

Eagle Lake Police Department — Eagle Lake, TX

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch June 18, 1998

Age 31

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Badge 307

The Vigil Panel 145 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 4

Incident

Patrolman Tobin Thomas was shot and killed as he was investigating the scene of a murder at 12:40 am. The suspect in that murder was hiding in some long brush near the scene and shot Patrolman Thomas in the back with a shotgun. Patrolman Thomas' vest stopped five pellets, and his belt stopped two. However, two pellets passed between his vest and his belt, one of which struck his spine and the other striking an artery, causing internal bleeding. Despite being mortally wounded, Patrolman Thomas was able to return fire and killed the man. Patrolman Thomas had served with the Eagle Lake Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, mother, father, brother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-46BE63D0
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Tobin. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Tobin is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Thomas gave the Eagle Lake Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Eagle Lake community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Thomas.

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

Agency

Department Eagle Lake Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Eagle Lake, Colorado County, TX

Platform Identity elpd.colorado.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 18, 1998

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 31

Badge Number 307

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

Tobin Craig Thomas served in the U.S. Navy (1984â1986) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Tobin Craig Thomas 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Eagle Lake Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Eagle Lake Police Department

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,461

of 2,422 officers

60.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious