William Nelson Thomas

Illinois Department of Corrections — Springfield, IL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch July 22, 1978

Age 49

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 31

Incident

Lieutenant William Thomas, Correctional Officer Stanley Cole and Correctional Officer Robert Conkle were killed during a riot at the Pontiac Correctional Center. Around 9:00 am, about 500 inmates were returning to their cells in the North Cell House when a riot erupted. The inmates set fire to several buildings in the complex resulting in an estimated $4 million in damages. Lieutenant Thomas and Correctional Officer Conkle were stabbed with shanks numerous times shortly after the riot began. Correctional Officer Cole was stabbed with a screwdriver. Correctional center staff and Illinois State Police troopers were able to restore order and return the inmates to their cells 11 hours later. Seventeen inmates were charged with the murders of the correctional officers, but none were convicted. Lieutenant Thomas had served with the Illinois Department of Corrections for four years and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-64A33610
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 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.
Lieutenant Thomas gave the Illinois Department of Corrections 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Illinois Department of Corrections

Location Springfield, IL

Platform Identity illicorr.sangamon.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 22, 1978

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Shank

Offender Acquitted

Military Service

William Nelson Thomas served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Lieutenant William Nelson Thomas 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Illinois Department of Corrections, 27 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.4% of this agency's fallen.

Illinois Department of Corrections

of 32 officers

84.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious