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Incident
Officer Thomas Welch succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on June 24th, 1866, while attempting to escort a drunk soldier assigned to the Nebraska 1st Regiment from a German beer garden. The beer garden had recently opened approximately two miles south of the city and one mile east of the road to Bellevue. The soldier and his friends were at the beer garden when the man became engaged in a fight with other patrons. Officer Welch and another officer were attempting to break up the fight when the soldier suddenly pulled out a revolver and shot Officer Welch. The man was taken into custody but escaped from the county jail with several other prisoners in July 1866. Officer Welch had served with the Omaha Police Department for only five months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
160 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Welch served with the Omaha Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Omaha community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Omaha Police Department has lost 25 officers; 21 of them killed feloniously.
Thomas is one of 97 officers killed feloniously in NE, 64.2% of the 151 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1866, 1 officer at Omaha Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1866, 1 officer in NE was killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 68 years on record. The heaviest was 1977, with 6.
In 1866, 23 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 160th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1866, 26 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 160th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Thomas was 35. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Omaha Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 42.5; the middle age was 33.5. Thomas had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Thomas was 35. Of the 92 killed feloniously in NE whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 51; the middle age was 41. Thomas had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Thomas was 35. 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. Thomas had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 35. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 0.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 14.3% of these deaths at Omaha Police Department; February holds the most, 23.8%. Fridays: 23.8%.
August holds 14.4% of these deaths in NE, more than any other month. Fridays: 16.5%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 84% of all 25 deaths at Omaha Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 38.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 64.2% of all 151 deaths in NE, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 26.8% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Omaha Police Department has 25 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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Thomas A. Welch Aug 17, 1866
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Jeremiah McCheane Jun 26, 1870
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Dan D. Tiedeman
Jun 9, 1897
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Samuel S. Drummy
Feb 15, 1908
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Lafayette A. Smith
Jan 14, 1909
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Thomas Ring
Feb 10, 1915
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William Good
Mar 31, 1916
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Frank Rooney
Jan 31, 1918
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Frank J. Murphy, Jr.
Jul 23, 1919
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Arthur G. Cooper
Feb 1, 1921
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James E. Scott Feb 10, 1922
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Frank S. Aughe
Jan 31, 1924
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William M. Davis
Feb 25, 1927
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Fred A. Kruger
Nov 17, 1930
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James J. Sullivan
Apr 4, 1931
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Reynold Wolfe
Feb 23, 1935
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Leslie G. Chamberlin
Jul 29, 1935
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Joseph J. Treglia
Jul 17, 1936
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John E. Costello
May 30, 1961
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Larry D. Minard, Sr.
Aug 17, 1970
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Paul Albert Nields
Jun 6, 1974
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James B. Wilson, Jr.
Aug 20, 1995
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Jason Pratt
Sep 19, 2003
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Gregory Keith Hamill
Feb 19, 2014
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Kerrie Sue Orozco
May 20, 2015
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-W
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