Thomas L. Zebley

Wilmington Police Department — Wilmington, DE

Felonious

End of Watch November 13, 1919

Age 41

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 38 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Zebley was shot and killed as he and another officer attempted to serve a warrant on two thieves for stealing several firearms. They located the wanted subject at 818 E 6th Street. As they made the arrest one of the men opened fire with one of the stolen revolvers, fatally wounding Patrolman Zebley. The other officer was also wounded. The suspect was apprehended and convicted of Patrolman Zebley's murder. He was sentenced to death and subsequently executed on December 2, 1920. Patrolman Zebley had served with the agency for 11 years. He was a widower and had no surviving children.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-DE-9DF15026
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 Zebley gave the Wilmington Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wilmington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Zebley.

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

Agency

Department Wilmington Police Department

Location Wilmington, DE

Platform Identity wpd.newcastle.de.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 13, 1919

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Executed in 1920

Patrolman Thomas L. Zebley 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 DE, 25 of 51 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 49% of this state's fallen. That is 5.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Wilmington Police Department, 7 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.

Wilmington Police Department

of 11 officers

63.6% Felonious

DE — Statewide

of 51 officers

49% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious