Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Cameron Thomas was killed when he attempted to jump to safety from a window of the Lexington Hotel, at the northwest corner of the intersection of S 12th Street and E Main Street in Richmond. He had traveled to Richmond on official business to address the state legislature concerning fee officers. Sheriff Thomas and the state delegate from Charlottesville were staying in the Lexington Hotel when a fire broke out at about 4:00 am. Both men were forced to jump from a third-story window into a safety net held by firefighters. Both men missed the net. The state delegate injured his back but Sheriff Thomas suffered fatal injuries. A total of 12 people died as a result of the fire and half a city block was destroyed. Sheriff Thomas had served with the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters, and father.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-254D3B66- 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.
Sheriff Thomas gave the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charlottesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Thomas.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Cameron Mason Thomas is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 203 of 654 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31% of this state's fallen.
At Albemarle County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cameron Mason Thomas's cause is highlighted.
How Cameron Mason Thomas Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Cameron Mason Thomas is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Albemarle County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
