Incident
Patrolman Thomas Durkin was struck and killed by an automobile while on duty. Patrolman Durkin had served with the Denver Police Department for 27.5 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 10 children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpdnw0sb7pxv615k9310- Stewardship
- 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
27 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Durkin gave the Denver Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Durkin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Denver Police Department has lost 74 officers; 16 of them lost to accidents.
Thomas is one of 101 officers lost to accidents in CO, 28% of the 361 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1929, 1 officer at Denver Police Department was lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 12 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 3.
In 1929, 2 officers in CO were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 66 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 4.
In 1929, 118 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1929, 130 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Thomas was 65. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Denver Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 65; the middle age was 35. Thomas had served 27.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 65. Of the 79 lost to accidents in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37. Thomas had served 27.5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Thomas was 65. 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 27.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 65. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Thomas had served 27.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 6.3% of these deaths at Denver Police Department; February holds the most, 18.8%. Thursdays: 25%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths in CO; July holds the most, 11.9%. Thursdays: 18.8%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 21.6% of all 74 deaths at Denver Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28% of all 361 deaths in CO, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Denver Police Department has 74 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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James C. Richey Feb 4, 1862
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John C. Phillips
Jul 16, 1889
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Charles F. Wanless
Sep 18, 1890
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Charles A. Hawley
Jan 16, 1891
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Gustave Gisin
Jan 24, 1893
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Alpheus J. Moore
Mar 20, 1895
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Wendell P. Smith Feb 6, 1896
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William E. Griffiths
Aug 13, 1899
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Thomas C. Clifford
Aug 13, 1899
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Stuart K. Harvey
Nov 6, 1900
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Frank Dulin
Mar 14, 1905
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William Bohanna
Mar 15, 1905
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John Spellman
Jun 18, 1906
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William H. Beck
May 2, 1908
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William P. Stephens
Aug 25, 1908
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Samuel Charles Carpenter
Jan 17, 1910
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William McPherson
Mar 12, 1912
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William H. Cabler Apr 22, 1916
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Luther McMahill
Sep 14, 1918
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Frank Sam Potestio
Nov 22, 1918
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Peter A. Walsh
Nov 23, 1918
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Emerson L. McKinnon
May 20, 1919
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George C. Klein
Aug 29, 1919
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James E. Boggio
Jan 8, 1920
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Roy O. Downing Dec 1, 1920
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William O. Steam Feb 18, 1921
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Clarence E. Zietz
Apr 2, 1921
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Forrest Ross
Apr 4, 1921
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Arthur J. Pinkerton
May 30, 1921
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Richie Rose
Oct 31, 1922
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James Shannon
Apr 4, 1925
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Elmer I. Rich
Mar 23, 1927
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Harry R. Ohle
Nov 22, 1928
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Thomas J. Durkin
Jan 17, 1929
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Clarence W. Alston
Mar 24, 1929
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William C. Keating
Aug 31, 1931
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John F. Dea
Feb 11, 1933
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George P. Schneider
Feb 11, 1933
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Thomas J. O'Connor
Mar 5, 1934
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John J. O'Donnell
Mar 22, 1934
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Clarence E. Fraker
Mar 23, 1934
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Alson E. McCasland
May 28, 1935
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Robert M. Campbell
Feb 11, 1936
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Pasquale C. Marinaro
Apr 17, 1936
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Forrest E. Sawyer
Mar 8, 1937
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Jacob Benner
Feb 14, 1938
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Fred Renovato
Oct 13, 1938
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Earl F. Burns
Feb 16, 1939
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Virgil M. Hall
Jul 5, 1945
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William Allen Claassen
Feb 11, 1953
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Donald L. Seick
Jan 12, 1958
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Edward H. Smerdel
Jul 16, 1961
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Darrell J. Suer
Mar 11, 1962
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Carl B. Knobbe
Sep 12, 1962
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Paul Lewis Major
Jan 20, 1965
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Paul D. Wilson
Sep 14, 1968
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William J. Wirtz
Feb 10, 1971
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Merle E. Nading
Oct 3, 1971
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William E. Smith
Jan 23, 1975
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Donald Lee DeBruno
Dec 10, 1975
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Kathleen Garcia
Mar 28, 1981
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Patrick Joseph Pollock
Dec 12, 1986
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James Edward Wier
Jun 3, 1987
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Robert William Wallis
Feb 9, 1988
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Shawn James Leinen
Feb 25, 1995
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Ronald Leon DeHerrera
Apr 1, 1997
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Bruce Leonard VanderJagt
Nov 12, 1997
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Michael E. Dowd
Dec 6, 1997
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Dennis Michael Licata
Sep 6, 2000
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Donald Ray Young
May 8, 2005
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David Roberts
May 27, 2011
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Celena Charise Hollis
Jun 24, 2012
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Robert Eugene Sandoval
Oct 29, 2020
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Dale Coski
Sep 26, 2024
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-W
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