Thomas Michael Phillips

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA

Felonious

End of Watch August 28, 1987

Age 35

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 132 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 127

Incident

Police Officer Thomas Phillips was struck and killed by a hit-and-run taxi cab while conducting a traffic stop of a suspected drunk driver on the Pontchartrain Expressway in the downtown area. The drunk driver had stopped in the middle of the three-lane highway. Officer Phillips was struck by the taxi as he approached the vehicle. The cab driver was arrested several days later and charged with homicide, but the charges were later dropped. Officer Phillips had served with the New Orleans Police Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his daughter and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-86E798F9
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 Phillips gave the New Orleans Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Phillips.

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

Agency

Department New Orleans Police Department

Location New Orleans, LA

Platform Identity nopd.orleans.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 28, 1987

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Charges dropped

Police Officer Thomas Michael Phillips 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 New Orleans Police Department, 86 of 128 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.2% of this agency's fallen.

New Orleans Police Department

of 128 officers

67.2% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious