Roll of Honor
Incident
Agent Tommy Matthews and Sheriff Dave Malcolm of the Butte County Sheriff's Office were shot and killed while conducting a roadblock near the town of Spearfish at the intersection of South Dakota Highways 14 & 85. Both officers were shot around 7 p.m. by an escaped murderer from Minnesota. The suspect was apprehended and executed in the electric chair in 1947. Agent Matthews had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation during World War I and served with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation for at least four years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. He is buried at Rose Hill Cemetary in Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota. A portion of Highway 85 has been dedicated to Agent Matthews and Sheriff Malcolm.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-SD-A6F59DEB- Stewardship
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- 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.
Agent Matthews gave the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pierre community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Agent Matthews.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Agent Thomas R. Matthews 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 SD, 36 of 62 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this state's fallen. That is 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas R. Matthews's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas R. Matthews Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1947
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas R. Matthews is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas R. Matthews was killed by gun; unknown type.