Thomas Edward Felton, Jr.
Agency patch
Patrol Deputy

Thomas Edward Felton, Jr.

Accident
End of Watch April 29, 1989
Age 23
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
Badge 55
The Vigil Panel 134 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrol Deputy Thomas Felton was killed when his patrol car was struck by a northbound CSX Railroad freight train, in Jarrett, while responding to backup another deputy at a burglary in progress. He was at home getting ready for his shift when he received the call at 6:30 am. An investigation into the crash revealed that the railroad crossing gates had been malfunctioning for several days and did not close as the train approached. Deputy Felton had served with the Sussex County Sheriff's Office for 2-1/2 years. He was survived by his wife, parents, and brother. Deputy Felton's surviving spouse became a founding member of the Virginia Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors and later became a national president of the organization.

Survivors

Survivors and later became a national president of the organization.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-7D353663
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.
Patrol Deputy Felton gave the Sussex County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sussex community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Deputy Felton.

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

Agency

Location Sussex, VA
Platform Identity scso.sussex.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 29, 1989
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
Age 23
Badge Number 55
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrol Deputy Thomas Edward Felton, Jr. 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 Sussex County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Sussex County Sheriff's Office
2
of 2 officers
100% Accident
VA — Statewide
203
of 654 officers
31% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Edward Felton, 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 Edward Felton, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
23
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
2.5
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Edward Felton, Jr. is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Sussex County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.