Incident
Sheriff Thomas Camp was shot and killed by a prisoner in the Campbell County Courthouse while awaiting transfer to the county jail.
The prisoner suddenly tried to run for the door but was grabbed by Sheriff Camp. A struggle ensued in which the prisoner gained control of Sheriff Camp's service revolver and then fatally shot him. The man fled into a nearby swamp where he was surrounded by a posse of citizens and captured a few hours later.
It was later discovered that the suspect had recently escaped from a Morgan County, Georgia, chain gang where he was serving a 20 year sentence for murder. He was convicted of Sheriff Camp's murder, sentenced to death, and executed in the electric chair on May 18, 1931.
Campbell County was annexed by Fulton County at the end of 1931.
Sheriff Camp was survived by his wife. Sheriff Camp's wife was appointed to serve the rest of his term as sheriff.
Survivors
Sheriff Camp was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-8DB4273A- 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.
Sheriff Camp served with the Campbell County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Fairburn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Camp.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Thomas Wiley Camp 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Campbell County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 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. Thomas Wiley Camp's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Wiley Camp Compares
Offender Outcome
executed in 1931
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Wiley Camp is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Wiley Camp was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Campbell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.