Fayette County Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Tuesday, November 21, 1967
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 21, 1967
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Released after eight years
Lieutenant John Thomas was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance on Richmond Avenue at 5:30 pm.
He had answered the call for one of his officers because he was in the area. The female participant answered the door, and the male was standing behind it. As Lieutenant Thomas entered, the man grabbed his handgun and kept him hostage for a short time before shooting him.
The man was sentenced to life but served only eight years.
Lieutenant Thomas had been with the Fayette County Police Department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and four children.