Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable John Bodenheimer and Constable Robert Kennedy were killed when the driver of a vehicle lost control and struck them as they conducted a traffic stop on US 29.
Constable Kennedy was standing beside the patrol car as Constable Bodenheimer sat inside. Another car entered the area and struck Constable Kennedy, killing him instantly, and then struck the patrol car. Constable Bodenheimer succumbed to his injuries four days later.
The driver of the vehicle that struck them was charged with manslaughter.
Constable Bodenheimer had served with the Thomasville Police Department for 16 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-F34E028F- 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.
Constable Bodenheimer gave the Thomasville Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Thomasville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Bodenheimer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable John McChristian Bodenheimer is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
At Thomasville Police Department, 3 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John McChristian Bodenheimer's cause is highlighted.
How John McChristian Bodenheimer Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John McChristian Bodenheimer is highlighted in Jul.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Thomasville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
