Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Cyrus Thomas was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a wanted suspect in Mount Vernon, Indiana
A few days earlier, eight males had robbed three females in their home in which four of the suspects were arrested. Deputy Thomas went to the home of one of the fathers of one of the remaining suspects. The suspect's father shot Deputy Thomas in the face and chest with a shotgun, killing him.
A city marshal was able to return fire, seriously wounding the father, who was then arrested.
Later that evening, a mob assembled, forced their way into the jail, and hanged the four original suspects at a lynching in the public square.
Deputy Thomas was survived by his expectant wife, three children, parents, and siblings.
Survivors
Deputy Thomas was survived by his expectant wife, three children, parents, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-IN-4100B3D1- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Thomas served with the Posey County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Mt. Vernon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Cyrus Oscar 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 IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cyrus Oscar Thomas's cause is highlighted.
How Cyrus Oscar Thomas Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Cyrus Oscar Thomas is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.