Bio & Incident Details
Age: 51
Tour: 14 years
Badge # 3
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 5/14/1952
Weapon: Shotgun
Suspect: Shot and killed
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Deputy Thomas Wolfe was shot and killed as he and another deputy attempted to question a man who had shot into a neighbor's home on two consecutive days. The man, a deaf mute, had fired officers several months earlier after having gone missing.
On the day of Deputy Wolfe's murder, the two deputies were accompanied by another neighbor who was going to help communicate with the suspect.
When the three arrived at the man's home they encountered the man sitting in an upstairs door above the porch. The deputies signaled for the man to come down. As Deputy Wolfe's partner approached from a rear door Deputy Wolfe yelled that the suspect was loading a gun. The man then fired through the door at the other deputy, barely missing him, and then fired towards Deputy Wolfe.
The suspect then came out of the house and fired at Deputy Wolfe again, seriously wounding him. The other deputy came around the house and exchanged several shots with the suspect, wounding him.
He was then able to get Deputy Wolfe into the patrol car and met an ambulance, which took him to the hospital. Other deputies went to the suspect's home and took the suspect to the hospital as well.
Deputy Wolfe succumbed to his wounds two weeks later. The suspect died on the day of Deputy Wolfe's funeral.
Deputy Wolfe had served with the agency for 14 years. He was survived by his wife, son, and father.
