Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Thomas Ballman and Sergeant William Biggs were shot and killed when a suspect opened fire at a Kirkwood city council meeting. The man had held a grudge against the city council for several years and had filed several lawsuits against the city.
The suspect approached Sergeant Biggs across the street from the city hall and asked him what time the meeting started, then pulled out a handgun and fatally shot him in the head. The man then took Sergeant Biggs' service weapon and walked across the street into the city hall.
When he entered the council chambers, he approached Officer Ballman, who was sitting in the front of the room and also fatally shot him in the head. The man then opened fire on the other occupants of the room, killing two council members and the director of public works before being shot and killed by two other officers.
Officer Ballman had served with the Kirkwood Police Department for nine years and had previously served with the St. Charles County Sheriff's Office for two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-8F817961- 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 Ballman gave the Kirkwood Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kirkwood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ballman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Thomas Frederick Ballman 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Kirkwood Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Frederick Ballman's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Frederick Ballman Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Frederick Ballman is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Frederick Ballman was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Kirkwood Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
