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Thomas Layton Jeffries
Agency patch
Officer

Thomas Layton Jeffries

Portland Police Bureau — Portland, OR
Felonious
United States flag Oregon flag
End of Watch July 21, 1997
Age 35
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 320 · Column 3 · Line 12 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 30

Incident

Officer Thomas Jeffries was shot and killed near the intersection of NE Glisan Street and NE 160th Avenue while attempting to apprehend a man wanted in connection with the shooting of a 7-year-old. As Officer Jeffries was backing up another officer who was stopping the suspect's vehicle, the suspect ran from the car and across some yards. Officer Jeffries pulled into a driveway, exited his vehicle, and immediately came under fire. One round struck his chest just above his vest. He was able to return fire and struck the suspect in the leg. The suspect dropped his weapon and ran into nearby woods where he was later found and arrested by a canine team. Officer Jeffries had served with the Portland Police Bureau for five years. He was survived by his expectant wife, also a member of the Portland Police Bureau. Officer Jeffries' son was born after his death.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife, also a member of the Portland Police Bureau.

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.
Officer Jeffries gave the Portland Police Bureau 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Jeffries.

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

Agency

Department Portland Police Bureau
Type Police Department
Location Portland, Clackamas County, OR
Platform Identity ppb.multnomah.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 21, 1997
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1997, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 35. 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 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Portland Police Bureau has 31 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Thomas Layton Jeffries

Portland Police Bureau · End of Watch July 21, 1997

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-E

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