Omaha Police Department, Nebraska
End of Watch: Friday, August 17, 1866
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 5 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 24, 1866
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Escaped custody
Officer Thomas Welch succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on June 24th, 1866, while attempting to escort a drunk soldier assigned to the Nebraska 1st Regiment from a German beer garden.
The beer garden had recently opened approximately two miles south of the city and one mile east of the road to Bellevue. The soldier and his friends were at the beer garden when the man became engaged in a fight with other patrons. Officer Welch and another officer were attempting to break up the fight when the soldier suddenly pulled out a revolver and shot Officer Welch. The man was taken into custody but escaped from the county jail with several other prisoners in July 1866.
Officer Welch had served with the Omaha Police Department for only five months. He was survived by his wife.