Tommy L. Thedford

Bessemer Police Dept. — Bessemer, AL

Felonious

End of Watch October 1, 1981

Age 37

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 124 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Police Officer Tommy Thedford was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect following a stakeout at 31st Street and Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer at 4:00 p.m. Officer Thedford was helping two women recover stolen jewelry. When Officer Thedford questioned the subject, the man started to walk away, but quickly turned around and pointed a gun at Officer Thedford. Before Officer Thedford could draw his gun, the man shot him in the head and fled. Officer Thedford was transported to Lloyd Noland Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds at 5:18 p.m. The suspect was a convicted killer recently released from prison. He had served two years of a 12-year sentence for second-degree murder. Since 1966, he had been arrested for burglary ten times. He was also under indictment for attempted murder since his release. He was convicted of Officer Thedford's murder and sentenced to death. Officer Thedford had served with the Bessemer Police Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-B0D49B3C
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.
Police Officer Thedford gave the Bessemer Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bessemer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Thedford.

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

Agency

Department Bessemer Police Dept.

Location Bessemer, AL

Platform Identity besspd.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 1, 1981

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to death

Police Officer Tommy L. Thedford 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 Bessemer Police Dept., 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Bessemer Police Dept.

of 10 officers

100% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious