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Officer

Thomas Kirkham

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA
Accident
United States flag Virginia flag
End of Watch July 1, 1869
The Vigil Panel 11 · Column 4 · Line 21 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 39

Incident

Officer Thomas Kirkham was killed when he fell from a bridge over the James River connecting Mayo Island and Vauxhall's Island.

He was attempting to control a large crowd during a political rally when the swing-bridge suddenly collapsed, tossing many people into the river. Officer Kirkham was thrown from the bridge as well and was struck in the head by falling timber.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

157 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Kirkham served with the Richmond Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Richmond, VA
Platform Identity rpd.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 1, 1869
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Thomas is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1869, 4 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 145th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

Richmond Police Department has 40 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
V

Where

Officer Thomas Kirkham

Richmond Police Department · End of Watch July 1, 1869

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-E

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