Roll of Honor
Incident
Agent Mike Thomas was shot and killed by a suspect who opened fire on him while he was stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Peoria Street and East Montview Boulevard.
Agent Thomas had just left a training session and was heading to another session when the incident occurred.
The shooter was subdued by several passersby and then taken into custody by an Aurora police officer and two Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officers who happened to be in the area. The man was wanted in Denver for an unprovoked shooting that had occurred the previous week.
The subject was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 80 years in prison on April 6th, 2009.
Agent Thomas was a United States Air Force Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Aurora Police Department for 24 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his daughter, mother, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-A7A76E86- 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 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 Aurora Police Department 24 years.
Thank you for your service to the Aurora community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Michael Del Thomas served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Agent Michael Del 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Aurora Police Department, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Del Thomas's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Del Thomas Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 80 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Del Thomas is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Del Thomas was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Aurora Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
