Thomas R. Kiefer

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI

Felonious

End of Watch November 25, 1977

Age 27

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 68

Incident

Officer Thomas Kiefer was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance. As he leaned across the door to ring the doorbell, the suspect opened fire from within the house, fatally wounding him. The suspect then barricaded himself, but surrendered a short time later. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life on December 14, 1978. In 1980, in a subsequent trial he was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed in a state mental hospital. Officer Kiefer had been employed with the Milwaukee Police Department for six years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-89CB8E16
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.
Police Officer Kiefer gave the Milwaukee Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kiefer.

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

Agency

Department Milwaukee Police Department

Location Milwaukee, WI

Platform Identity mpd.milwaukee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 25, 1977

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Committed

Police Officer Thomas R. Kiefer 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Milwaukee Police Department, 42 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this agency's fallen.

Milwaukee Police Department

of 69 officers

60.9% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious