Incident
Police Officer Tom Clark suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after completing a physical agility test while trying out for the department's canine unit. He returned home following the test, informed his wife he did not feel well, and laid down.
A short time later his wife checked on him and was unable to wake him. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead that evening at Rochester General Hospital.
Officer Clark had served in law enforcement for 16 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
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.
Police Officer Clark gave the Rochester Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rochester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Clark.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Rochester Police Department has lost 17 officers; 1 of them lost to cardiac events.
Thomas is one of 102 officers lost to cardiac events in NY, 4.8% of the 2,132 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2006, 2 officers in NY were lost to cardiac events, the 9th heaviest of 57 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 6.
In 2006, 16 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 24th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 2006, 16 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 24th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Thomas was 41. Of the 92 lost to cardiac events in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 37.8 and 51.5; the middle age was 45. Thomas had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Thomas was 41. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Thomas had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Thomas was 41. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Thomas had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
January holds 13.7% of these deaths in NY, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 15.7%.
January holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.9%.
January holds 9.5% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.9%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 5.9% of all 17 deaths at Rochester Police Department, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.8% of all 2,132 deaths in NY, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Rochester Police Department has 17 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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Louis Gomenginger Jul 3, 1876
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William P. O'Neil
Dec 30, 1888
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Charles E. Twitchell
Aug 7, 1910
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Frank Ford
May 29, 1912
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William J. Geib
Sep 9, 1914
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James Upton
Mar 19, 1919
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William O'Brien
May 2, 1919
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John T. Mallett Jun 22, 1931
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Victor Woodhead
Nov 17, 1932
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James T. Volz
Sep 15, 1942
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Harold V. Shaw
Dec 11, 1959
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Leo L. Kerber
Dec 10, 1961
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John J. Jenkins, Jr.
Jan 3, 1979
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Ronald J. Siver
Aug 19, 1984
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Thomas William Clark
Jan 17, 2006
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Daryl Robert Pierson
Sep 3, 2014
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Anthony Patrick Mazurkiewicz
Jul 21, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Rochester Police Department are honored on badge.nw.













