Roll of Honor

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Special Agent

Thomas Adolphus Owens, Jr.

Central of Georgia Railroad Police Department — Savannah, GA

Felonious

End of Watch May 10, 1938

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 74 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Special Agent Tom Owens was shot and killed by a hobo who was hitching a ride in a slag-filled gondola car. He and his partner were searching the moving train as it departed the Woodlawn Yards in Birmingham, Alabama. The agents observed two men board the slow-moving freight train and began searching for them. As they walked atop the cars they came across the two men hiding in the gondola car and were immediately fired upon. Agent Owens was shot and killed before drawing his weapon. His partner returned fire and killed the subject despite being seriously wounded himself. Special Agent Owens had previously served with the Troy, Alabama, Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, brother, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-DF1C0A3F
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.
Special Agent Owens served with the Central of Georgia Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Savannah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Owens.

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

Agency

Department Central of Georgia Railroad Police Department

Location Savannah, GA

Platform Identity cgrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 10, 1938

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and Killed

Special Agent Thomas Adolphus Owens, Jr. 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Central of Georgia Railroad Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% 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 Adolphus Owens, Jr.'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 Adolphus Owens, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and Killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Adolphus Owens, Jr. is highlighted in May.

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 Adolphus Owens, Jr. 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