Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Richard Thomas was shot and killed from ambush while walking his beat near the intersection of Forrest Avenue and Highland Avenue.
Officer Thomas was leaving a store and was walking down the stairs from the front porch when he was shot without warning by a man on the sidewalk. He was struck in the face and killed instantly.
The subject who shot him was a criminal who was well known to police officers in the area, and he was married to Officer Thomas' niece. He fled the scene and remained at large for 10 years until turning himself in to the Baltimore Police Department, Maryland, on March 16, 1932. The suspect, now 41, was returned to Pennsylvania where on April 30, 1932, he pleaded guilty to second degree murder and sentenced to nine to 18 years in prison. He was pardoned on May 7, 1938.
Officer Thomas had served with the Washington City Police Department for only a few months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 10 children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-BDACAD5E- 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.
Police Officer Thomas served with the Washington City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Thomas.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Richard Allen Thomas 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Washington City Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Allen Thomas's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Allen Thomas Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 18 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Allen Thomas is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Allen Thomas was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Washington City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
