Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Thomas Fitzgibbons succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect at his home in the 900 block of South Fourth Street. Due to a rash of robberies, Sergeant Fitzgibbons and his partner were working a off duty plainclothes detail. They were investigating an armed robbery of a man by two suspects from the previous day when one of the suspects got scared and ran away. The victim after notifying police spotted both suspects near the area of the robbery and notified police again. Followed by police, one of the suspects was able to escape on foot as police tried to arrest them both. The second suspect was later identified through the first suspect and Sergeant Fitzgibbons and his partner went to the suspects house to arrest him. After waiting outside the house for nearly two hours Sergeant Fitzgibbons was shot in the stomach, as he and his partner attempted to arrest the suspect. During an exchange of gunfire between both officer the suspect was able to flee on foot. The suspect was arrested the next morning at the home of his grandfather in Garfield Hill. The 19-year-old ex-convict was arrested, convicted of the murder of Sergeant Fitzgibbons, and sentenced to life. He was paroled in 1930. During his 12 years in prison he escaped three times. In 1933 he was returned to prison for 20 years following his conviction for several payroll hold-ups in Louisville. In December of 1933 he escaped from prison a fourth time. Two months later he and another escapee were captured near Lexington. He received an additional 18 years for robbing a store and robbing and kidnapping a taxi driver before his capture. Sergeant Fitzgibbons served with the Louisville Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-1C7000BF- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Fitzgibbons gave the Louisville Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Fitzgibbons.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Thomas J. Fitzgibbons 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Louisville Police Department, 51 of 91 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas J. Fitzgibbons's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas J. Fitzgibbons Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1930
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas J. Fitzgibbons is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas J. Fitzgibbons was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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