Thomas H. Day
Agency patch
Detective

Thomas H. Day

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Accident
End of Watch July 7, 1931
Age 45
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge 172
The Vigil Panel 62 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Thomas Day was killed in an automobile crash while transporting a prisoner. Patrolman Day apprehended a suspect, and at that time, the practice was to have the suspect drive the police car to headquarters while the officer guarded him. This particular suspect, by intent or inability, was unable to handle the vehicle and careened wildly into a utility pole. Patrolman Day was killed. The driver was charged with manslaughter, but there are no additional details about the incident. Detective Day had been with the Columbus Division of Police for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Detective Day gave the Columbus Division of Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Day.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Columbus, Franklin County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 7, 1931
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 172
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 1931, 100 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 45. 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 11 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; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

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

Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years

Detective Thomas H. Day

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch July 7, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-W

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