Thomas F. Kelly
Agency patch
Patrolman

Thomas F. Kelly

Felonious
End of Watch April 17, 1925
Age 29
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 8558
The Vigil Panel 49 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Kelly was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man he observed stealing a car. Patrolman Kelly and his partner were in plainclothes and were keeping surveillance of a location on 113th Street when they observed two men approach a parked vehicle. One man entered the car, while the other man acted as a lookout. Patrolman Kelly and his partner approached the men. Patrolman Kelly's partner began struggling with the man inside the vehicle as Patrolman Kelly attempted to take the lookout into custody. At some point, the lookout pulled a handgun and shot Patrolman Kelly. Patrolman Kelly was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital but died from his wound. Patrolman Kelly was assigned to the 12th Division and had served with the agency for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Kelly gave the New York City Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Kelly.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 17, 1925
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 8558
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Thomas is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1925, 208 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 29. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Thomas F. Kelly

New York City Police Department · End of Watch April 17, 1925

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-W

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