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Thomas Clay Warden
Incident
Special Officer Thomas Warden was struck and killed by a switch engine in Seligman, Arizona, while conducting surveillance of several men in the railyards.
He had traveled to Seligman as the result of increased trespassing and thefts from the railyard. He was watching the group of men when he was struck by a string of railcars that was being pushed by a switch engine.
Officer Warden had served in law enforcement for approximately 46 years. He had served two terms as sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, and had also served win the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office and San Bernardino Police Department in California.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
46 years. You could have gone home.
Special Officer Warden gave the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department 46 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Warden.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has lost 32 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
Thomas is one of 66 officers lost to accidents in KS, 19.7% of the 335 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, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1906, 1 officer at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1906, 1 officer in KS was lost to accidents, the 14th heaviest of 50 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 3.
In 1906, 27 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 118th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1906, 40 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 115th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Thomas was 65. Of the 8 lost to accidents at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 42.3 and 55.5; the middle age was 50.5. Thomas had served 46 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Thomas was 65. Of the 59 lost to accidents in KS whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 49; the middle age was 37. Thomas had served 46 years; the middle length of service was 7 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 46 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 46 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 12.5% of these deaths at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department; January holds the most, 25%. Fridays: 25%.
March holds 6.1% of these deaths in KS; November holds the most, 13.6%. Fridays: 21.2%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 25% of all 32 deaths at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 19.7% of all 335 deaths in KS, 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 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has 32 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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Charles Hale
Oct 7, 1874
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Joseph Lampkin Dec 8, 1891
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George C. Montgomery Oct 5, 1901
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C. S. Calhoun Jul 12, 1905
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Thomas Clay Warden
Mar 2, 1906
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Oscar G. Bodley
Aug 29, 1906
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Charles L. Stewart
Aug 13, 1908
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J. A. McClure Jan 25, 1911
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John P. Cates Jun 7, 1911
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Joseph M. Kroskey Feb 22, 1912
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George W. Greenstreet Jun 17, 1912
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George W. LaPorte Mar 21, 1914
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Thomas J. Sullivan Apr 5, 1915
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William Francis Langdon
Dec 10, 1915
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Charles A. Kieper
Mar 17, 1919
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Jack Chelton Harris
Jul 15, 1919
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L. Frank Cornelius
Jan 20, 1921
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Thomas McMillin Aug 29, 1921
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Charles Sherman Patterson Aug 29, 1921
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Roy E. Burton Jul 27, 1922
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Vernon L. Holzer Aug 21, 1923
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Louis McCamant Apr 25, 1924
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Edward Lee Bowler Jan 16, 1925
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Lewis H. Mickey Mar 20, 1925
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Roy W. Stewart Jan 9, 1926
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Earl Scothorn Nov 13, 1927
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James Edward Dunman
Oct 29, 1930
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Buford A. French Nov 11, 1932
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John H. Nafziger
Jan 30, 1940
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Harry Lloyd Ashley
Dec 19, 1947
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Jimmie Allen Barnett Apr 29, 1975
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James Robert Robison
Feb 10, 1986
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
