Roll of Honor
Thomas Jefferson York
Incident
Constable Thomas York was shot and killed while investigating an accident on U.S. Highway 127 near Jamestown, Tennessee. A man notified Constable York of the accident while the constable was at home in bed. Constable York met the man and began to drive to the accident scene when some sort of trouble started between the two men. Constable York stopped the car, and both men began to struggle on the side of the road. Constable York shot the suspect three times, but the man was able to gain control of Constable York's service weapon and shot him in the head, killing him. The suspect also succumbed to his wounds at the scene of the shooting. Constable York was a United States Air Force veteran and was the son of U.S. Army Sergeant Alvin C. York, the famous American hero of World War I. He was survived by his wife and four children. He is buried in Wolf River Cemetery, Pall Mall, Fentress County, Tennessee.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-30192854- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Constable York served with the Fentress County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jamestown community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Thomas Jefferson York served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Constable Thomas Jefferson York 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 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 Jefferson York's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Jefferson York Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Jefferson York is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Jefferson York was killed by officer's handgun.