Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Tom Hayes succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained 31 years earlier while attempting to arrest two teens on a curfew violation.
He had responded to a local convenience store after receiving reports of a disturbance by the two teens at 2:25 a.m. The boys had been drinking, smoking marijuana, and had taken LSD. As Officer Hayes attempted to arrest them, a scuffle ensued in which one of the boys pulled out a handgun and shot him in the back. The wound caused him to become paralyzed below the waist.
Officer Hayes continued to suffer serious health issues as a result of the wound, including the amputation of one of his legs six years prior to his death. In March 2011, Officer Hayes' death was ruled a homicide by the Franklin County Coroner.
One youth was found guilty of delinquency charges and committed to the Ohio Youth Commission. The juvenile, who shot Officer Hayes, was tried as an adult and convicted of felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon. He served almost 24 years in prison before being released in 2004.
Officer Hayes was a United States Army veteran. Prior to being shot, he had served with the Columbus Division of Police for seven years. Despite his wounds and health issues, Officer Hayes continued to work as a civilian sketch artist for the agency.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-DCAB55D9- 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.
Police Officer Hayes gave the Columbus Division of Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Thomas Raymond Hayes served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Thomas Raymond Hayes 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Columbus Division of Police, 36 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Raymond Hayes's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Raymond Hayes Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 24 years in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Raymond Hayes is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Raymond Hayes was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from Columbus Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
