Thomas A. Herbert
Agency patch
Patrolman

Thomas A. Herbert

Accident
End of Watch August 30, 1918
Age 56
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
The Vigil Panel 34 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Herbert was struck and killed by a runaway truck while directing traffic on the Williamsburg Bridge.

The truck had just been involved in a crash on the eastbound lanes near the Brooklyn tower. Patrolman Thomas told both vehicles to move off of the bridge. As the driver of the truck restarted it, it lurched forward and threw the driver from the running board. The truck then struck Patrolman Herbert and drove over the top of him before the driver could get back in and stop it.

Patrolman Herbert was transported to Williamsburg Hospital where he died. The driver of the truck was arrested.

Patrolman Herbert had served with the New York City Police Department for 27 years and was assigned to the Bridge Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

27 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Herbert gave the New York City Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Herbert.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 30, 1918
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Age 56
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Thomas is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1918, 39 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 108th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 56. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Thomas had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Thomas A. Herbert

New York City Police Department · End of Watch August 30, 1918

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

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