Thomas Sparks

New York Metropolitan Police Force — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch July 9, 1857

Tour of Duty

The Vigil Panel 2 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 21

Incident

Patrolman Sparks succumbed to injuries received when he was struck by an object after arresting a man for assault.

Patrolman Sparks had been appointed a Special Patrolman only one night before due to rioting going on in the city. Two rival gangs, "The Bowery Boys" and "The Dead Rabbits" had faced off against each other.

Patrolman Sparks heard a cry for help, he responded and made an arrest. As Patrolman Sparks was walking the arrested subject toward White Street, he was struck with an object by a member of the "Dead Rabbits" gang. He was taken home where his condition deteriorated he died five days after being assaulted.

Looking to Honor all the LOD Officers, Trying to Locate these Officers Graves any help to Identify and Locate this Heros Grave would be Very Much Appreciated.

Retired Lt Bill Markowski

Lt William Markowski NYPD July 8th, 2025

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-BA441F58
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

169 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Patrolman Sparks served with the New York Metropolitan Police Force.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New York Metropolitan Police Force

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nympd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 9, 1857

Tour of Duty

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object

Special Patrolman Thomas Sparks is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.

In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York Metropolitan Police Force, 18 of 22 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81.8% of this agency's fallen.

New York Metropolitan Police Force

of 22 officers

81.8% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious