Roll of Honor
Biography
Sergeant Tom (Tommy) Staples was a proud member of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for 21 years who died by suicide on May 2, 2019. During his years of service, he was a patrol deputy, Corporal, Field Training Officer (FTO), FTO coordinator, Police Academy Instructor and Sergeant. Before his long-standing career at the Sheriff’s Office, Tom served his country in the United States Marine Corp. He was so proud of his military service and was the most patriotic person I know. His love for this country was infectious! As a young boy Tom knew he wanted to be a Police Officer, he loved his job and excelled at serving his community. Unfortunately, like many Officers he poured so much of himself into everyone around him and never took the time help to himself. Tom formed many deep relationships with his coworkers over the years and made a strong impact on the lives of the officers at the academy and everyone who knew him. His love for his family and friends ran deep. Married for 12.5 years, together for 15, he and his wife JoAnna had 3 children; a daughter and two sons “He could always make me laugh. He was really funny,” JoAnna said. She said he loved to be outdoors and to barbecue, and he had a great sense of humor.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-2CEC3FC0- 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
Officer Thomas Staples served with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office.
Thank you for your service, and for your service before it. We will always remember your sacrifice.
You belong on this wall. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Thomas A. Staples served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Thomas A. Staples is one of 256 officers honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job across the full record of this memorial — 0.8% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 11 of 1,318 officers were honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job — 0.8% of this state's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Suicide compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas A. Staples's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas A. Staples Compares
When Suicide Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Suicide deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas A. Staples is highlighted in May.