John Charles Thomas

Tuscaloosa Police Department — Tuscaloosa, AL

Felonious

End of Watch December 10, 1972

Age 26

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Patrolman John Thomas was shot and killed at about 7:30 pm while responding to a domestic disturbance at 4223 20th Street in Tuscaloosa. As the officers were searching the home for the man he opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun, striking Patrolman Thomas. Despite being wounded, Patrolman Thomas was able to return fire and wounded the subject. Patrolman Thomas had served with the Tuscaloosa Police Department for two years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-63010863
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.
Patrolman Thomas gave the Tuscaloosa Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tuscaloosa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Thomas.

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

Agency

Department Tuscaloosa Police Department

Location Tuscaloosa, AL

Platform Identity tpd.tuscaloosa.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1972

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Shot and wounded

Patrolman John Charles 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 Tuscaloosa Police Department, 9 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Tuscaloosa Police Department

of 12 officers

75% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious