Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Thomas Gentry

Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office — Leesville, LA

Felonious

End of Watch August 28, 1924

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Thomas Gentry was shot and fatally wounded near Leesville by a 16-year-old boy he attempted to arrest for shooting at a man.

As Deputy Gentry was searching for the suspect at his home he opened fire from underneath his bed. Deputy Gentry returned fire wounding the boy's mother who jumped between them. Deputy Gentry, shot in the abdomen, died at a local hospital the next day. Hours later a posse shot and killed the suspect near Kurthwood.

Deputy Gentry was survived by a son and daughter.

Survivors

Deputy Gentry was survived by a son and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-2586F7DC
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 Gentry served with the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Leesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gentry.

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

Agency

Department Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office

Location Leesville, LA

Platform Identity vpso.vernon.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 28, 1924

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Thomas Gentry 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office

of 3 officers

33.3% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Gentry's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Thomas Gentry Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Gentry is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Gentry was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.

Deputy Sheriff

Steven George Netherland