National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Officer Rank: Inspector

Memorial Panel: 19-W: 4

Department: U.S. Customs Service

End of Watch: December 23, 1928

Cause: SHOT

Age: 40

Years of Service:

Description: Inspector Thomas Morris died while attempting to arrest two suspects who had crossed the border near El Paso. Inspector Morris and a fellow inspector had pulled two men and were about to cuff them when one of the men asked if he could roll a cigarette. The man pulled out a .38 automatic pistol and shot Inspector Morris three times in the chest and shot Inspector Rogers, but the bullet did not penetrate his body. Morris was taken to the hospital where he died hours later. The driver was captured later and charged with liquor violations.