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Private

Thomas J. Martin

Charleston Police Department — Charleston, SC
Felonious
United States flag South Carolina flag
End of Watch July 22, 1870
The Vigil Panel 4 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 23

Incident

Private Thomas Martin was shot as he attempted to quell a disturbance among a group of soldiers on King Street, between George Street and Calhoun Street.

The soldiers were white and Private Martin was African American. He first encouraged them to be quiet but they ignored his requests. As Private Martin began to call for other officers with his signal rap one of the soldiers shot him in the chest, causing a fatal wound.

Responding officers chased the group of soldiers to the main gate at the Citadel where they were arrested and charged with murder. One other officer suffered a wound to his leg when he was shot while chasing the soldiers.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

156 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Private Martin served with the Charleston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Charleston Police Department
Type Other
Location Charleston, Berkeley County, SC
Platform Identity cpd.charleston.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 22, 1870
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1870, 31 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 155th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
III

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; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

Charleston Police Department has 24 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
V

Where

Private Thomas J. Martin

Charleston Police Department · End of Watch July 22, 1870

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-E

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