Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Thomas Guerry was shot and killed by two robbery suspects at the intersection of West Ortega Street and Bradbury Avenue at approximately 5:30 pm. He and his partner noticed two suspicious persons who later turned out to be felons from Baltimore, Maryland, who were on a cross country crime spree. As the detectives stepped out of their vehicle, both subjects fired on them, fatally wounding Detective Guerry. Detective Guerry's partner was able to return fire and wounded one of the the suspects. Both suspects were apprehended and convicted of murder. One of the men was sentenced to life and the other to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment when the death penalty was abolished in California in 1972. He died in prison in 1992. Detective Guerry had served with the Santa Barbara Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-48545986- 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.
Detective Guerry gave the Santa Barbara Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Santa Barbara community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Guerry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective H. Thomas Guerry 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Santa Barbara Police Dept., 1 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. H. Thomas Guerry's cause is highlighted.
How H. Thomas Guerry Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. H. Thomas Guerry is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. H. Thomas Guerry was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Santa Barbara Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
