Leroy H. "Shorty" Thomas

Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board — Montgomery, AL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 3, 1947

Age 32

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 83 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Agent Shorty Thomas was shot and killed when he and other agents stopped a vehicle near Sayreton after an automobile chase between Coalburg and Birmingham. Agent Thomas and other officers were searching the vehicle for illegal whiskey. The suspect shot at the officers and fled but was taken into custody a few hours later. The suspect was acquitted of murder in October 1947. Agent Thomas was a United States Navy WWII veteran and had served with the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for over five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-1397ACEC
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.

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

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 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.
Agent Thomas gave the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Montgomery community, 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 Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board

Location Montgomery, AL

Platform Identity aabcb.montgomery.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 3, 1947

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Acquitted

Military Service

Leroy H. "Shorty" Thomas served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Agent Leroy H. "Shorty" 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 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 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board

of 5 officers

40% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious