Thomas M. "Spanky" Bowen

Columbus Police Dept. — Columbus, GA

Felonious

End of Watch March 11, 1984

Age 26

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 128 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 25

Incident

Police Officer Thomas Bowen was shot and killed after responding to a burglary call. During the call, he became involved in a pursuit with the suspect, who eventually crashed at Edgewood Road and Auburn Avenue. Officer Bowen radioed to dispatchers that he was going to check the vehicle for injuries at 4:07 am. When backup officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Officer Bowen suffering from two .22 caliber gunshot wounds to the forehead. He was transported to the Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect was apprehended a short time later and subsequently sentenced to life. He was denied parole in 2014. Officer Bowen had served with the Columbus Police Department for over seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, sister, and fiancee.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-CEB1EFC0
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.
Police Officer Bowen gave the Columbus Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bowen.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Police Dept.

Location Columbus, GA

Platform Identity cpd.muscogee.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 11, 1984

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Thomas M. "Spanky" Bowen 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 Columbus Police Dept., 19 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.1% of this agency's fallen.

Columbus Police Dept.

of 26 officers

73.1% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious