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Thomas F. Madden
Agency patch
Police Officer

Thomas F. Madden

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
United States flag Michigan flag
End of Watch December 9, 1913
Age 36
The Vigil Panel 28 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 249

Incident

Police Officer Thomas Madden was shot and killed while attempting to question two joy riders in a stolen car at 2 a.m. Officer Madden jumped onto the running board of the suspects' vehicle and told them to stop. One of the men then shot him in the stomach. Although wounded, Officer Madden continued holding onto the car until it hit a curb at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Bethune Avenue. The 17-year-old gunman was shot and killed as he attempted to rob a grocery store on February 22, 1914. His accomplice was later arrested and gave police information which lead to the identity of the gunman. He was charged with complicity in the murder, tried and acquitted. Officer Madden was assigned the Bethune Avenue Station.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Madden served with the Detroit Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Madden.

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

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 9, 1913
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1913, 133 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 36. 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.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Detroit Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Thomas F. Madden

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch December 9, 1913

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-E

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