Tommy Ray
Agency patch
Patrolman

Tommy Ray

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch April 20, 1973
Age 27
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 499
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Tommy Ray succumbed to gunshot wounds received one month earlier while responding to a burglary call at a supermarket at 1804 Dixie Highway. A store owner had arrived at work and discovered the burglary. The suspect, however, was still inside and robbed the man after he called the police. Patrolman Ray was entering the store as the suspect attempted to flee and was shot twice by the suspect. The suspect, 18, was tried and acquitted. Patrolman Ray had served with the Louisville Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, parents, two sisters, and three brothers.

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 Ray gave the Louisville Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Ray.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Louisville, Jefferson County, KY
Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 20, 1973
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 27
Badge Number 499
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Tommy is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1973, 171 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 17th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Tommy was 27. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Tommy had served 3 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Louisville Police Department has 91 officers remembered here, Tommy among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Tommy Ray

Louisville Police Department · End of Watch April 20, 1973

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 15-W

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