Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Friday, November 20, 1970
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 15 years, 6 months
Badge Number: 5620
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 4, 1970
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Charges dismissed
Patrolman Paul G. Thomas, Jr. was mortally wounded when he attempted to stop an armed robbery while off duty.
He was visiting his father at his father's place of business at 556 West 103rd Street. While in a rear office, he heard two men enter and begin to scuffle with his father. Patrolman Thomas rushed to his father's aid and struggled with the gunmen. The assailants fired their weapons and wounded Patrolman Thomas. Patrolman Thomas was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds 16 days later.
On April 28, 1972, two men, 17 and 18, were arrested for armed robbery and murder of the 22-year-old manager of a White Castle Restaurant on 111th Street. Both had been released earlier, under bond, from the Cook County Jail for robbing and severely beating a woman. Patrolman Thomas' mother and father identified the two as their son's killers. The judge dropped the charges against one in the murder of the manager and acquitted the gunman after his family testified he was at home with them that night. A month later the same judge dropped the charges in Patrolman Thomas' case.
Patrolman Thomas was survived by his parents, wife, son, and three daughters.