Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Cruz Thomas was killed in a vehicle crash on I-85, near mile marker 163, while attempting to catch a traffic violator at approximately 9:00 pm.
A tractor-trailer traveling in the same direction attempted to change lanes, causing Deputy Thomas' vehicle to leave the highway, overturn, and strike several trees. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputy Thomas served with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and had served in law enforcement for seven years.
Deputy Sheriff Cruz Thomas was killed in a vehicle crash on I-85, near mile marker 163, while attempting to catch a traffic violator at approximately 9:00 pm.
Survivors
He was survived by his 8-month-old daughter, sister, mother, and father, who served as the sheriff of Franklin County.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-02C7530B- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Thomas gave the Franklin County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Carnesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Thomas.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Steven LaCruz Thomas is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In GA, 263 of 903 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.9 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Franklin County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Steven LaCruz Thomas's cause is highlighted.
How Steven LaCruz Thomas Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Steven LaCruz Thomas is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Franklin County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
