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Tommy Kwok Chin
Incident
Detention Enforcement Officer Tommy Chin died after contracting Bete-hemolvtic streptococcus, Group A, also known as the flesh eating bacteria, while conducting detention operations of 151 illegal Chinese refugees on the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Officer Chin had served with the United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Detention Enforcement Officer Chin gave the United States Department of Justice 11 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detention Enforcement Officer Chin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - Detention and Deportation has lost 6 officers; 1 of them lost to illness.
Tommy is one of 137 officers lost to illness in DC, 9.7% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Tommy is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Tommy is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1999, 1 officer in DC was lost to illness, the 16th heaviest of 25 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 45.
In 1999, 3 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 33rd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 1999, 6 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 92nd heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Tommy was 40. Of the 136 lost to illness in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 56.3; the middle age was 51. Tommy had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 19 years.
Tommy was 40. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Tommy had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Tommy was 40. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Tommy had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
October holds 13.9% of these deaths in DC, more than any other month. Sundays: 12.4%.
October holds 14.9% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Sundays: 14.2%.
October holds 12.6% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Sundays: 13.2%.
How
Illness deaths account for 16.7% of all 6 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - Detention and Deportation, the 2nd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 9.7% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - Detention and Deportation has 6 officers remembered here, Tommy among them.
Where
WA
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - Detention and Deportation are honored on badge.nw.
