Thomas Jefferson Brumley
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Thomas Jefferson Brumley

Sapulpa Police Department — Sapulpa, OK
Felonious
End of Watch February 3, 1934
Age 55
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 67 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Thomas Brumley was shot and killed as he and other officers were searching for armed robbery suspects. The officers had received information that the suspects would be hiding in a small house north of town. The officers had already checked two houses and were approaching the third when two men came out holding guns. The officers opened fire, killing both men. Chief Brumley, who was covering the rear of the house, was shot and killed by a suspect hiding in the basement. The man fled the scene and then shot and killed Officer Charles Lloyd during the ensuing search. The suspect was shot and killed by posse members the following morning. Chief Brumley's brother, Patrolman Sheppard Brumley, was also shot and killed in the line duty while serving with the Sapulpa Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-372120CD
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.
Chief of Police Brumley gave the Sapulpa Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sapulpa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Brumley.

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

Agency

Location Sapulpa, OK
Platform Identity spd.creek.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 3, 1934
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 55
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

Chief of Police Thomas Jefferson Brumley 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Sapulpa Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Sapulpa Police Department
5
of 6 officers
83.3% Felonious
OK — Statewide
403
of 582 officers
69.2% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Jefferson Brumley's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Thomas Jefferson Brumley Compares

Age at End of Watch
55
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Jefferson Brumley is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Jefferson Brumley was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518