Thomas B. Whatley

North Carolina Highway Patrol — Raleigh, NC

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 29, 1947

Age 25

Tour of Duty 4 mo

The Vigil Panel 84 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 68

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Whatley succumbed to gunshot wounds received the previous evening while he and the Graham County Sheriff attempted to serve a restraining order at a home near Robbinsville. As the officers stepped onto the front porch the suspect opened fire with a rifle, striking Patrolman Whatley in the abdomen. Patrolman Whatley was taken to District Hospital in Andrews, North Carolina, where he succumbed to his wound. The killer was apprehended a short time later and convicted of Patrolman Whatley's murder. He was released after serving 17 years. Patrolman Whatley was a WWII veteran and had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for four months.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-283DC1A1
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Whatley served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department North Carolina Highway Patrol

Location Raleigh, NC

Platform Identity nchp.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 29, 1947

Tour of Duty 4 mo

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30-.30

Offender Served 17 years

Military Service

Thomas B. Whatley served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Thomas B. Whatley 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At North Carolina Highway Patrol, 23 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

North Carolina Highway Patrol

of 69 officers

33.3% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious