Thomas J. Ponder
Agency patch
Police Officer

Thomas J. Ponder

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA
Felonious
End of Watch November 8, 1897
Age 45
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 14 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Thomas Ponder was shot and killed when he interrupted a burglary at a liquor house on Wall Street. The business had been closed by the county sheriff the previous day. Three men were arrested and charged with murder. The shooter was acquitted and the other two were released. Officer Ponder had served with the Atlanta Police Department for four years. He survived by his wife and seven children.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Ponder gave the Atlanta Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Atlanta, Fulton County, GA
Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1897
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 45
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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1897, 52 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 137th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 45. 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 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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

Atlanta Police Department has 88 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Thomas J. Ponder

Atlanta Police Department · End of Watch November 8, 1897

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-W

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