Roll of Honor
Thomas C. Barnard
Incident
Location: West Virginia Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber Offender: Charged with murder
Lieutenant Thomas Barnard was shot and killed at Morgantown and Kingwood Junction (Rowlesburg), West Virginia while attempting to arrest several men who were trespassing on a train.
He was climbing onto the train car when one of the men shot him in the head without warning. His body was found a short time later by a brakeman. A posse intercepted the train in Terra Alta, West Virginia, and two of the men were wounded in a shootout with a Preston County constable.
The man who shot Lieutenant Barnard was a U.S. Army deserter who had spent several years in prison. He was arrested and charged with murder.
Lieutenant Barnard was assigned to the Cumberland Division. He was buried in Saint Marys Cemetery in Petersville, Maryland.
Lt. Barnard, On today, the 100th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice as a Law Enforcement Officer.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol June 1st, 2021
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-6752B374- 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.
Lieutenant Barnard served with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Barnard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Thomas C. Barnard 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Police Department, 13 of 22 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas C. Barnard's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas C. Barnard Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas C. Barnard is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas C. Barnard was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
