Police Officer Thomas Allen

Thomas Allen

Police Officer Thomas Allen was shot and killed by the editor of a black newspaper in San Antonio during a dispute about articles the editor had written. The reporter wrote several articles that Officer Allen had mistreated women during arrests. The journalist met Officer Allen at Jennings Drug Store in the 400 block of East Sixth Street and shot him following an earlier confrontation at a nearby wagon yard.

Officer Allen was part of Austin's Mounted Patrol and was the city's second African-American lawman. He was reportedly killed 30 feet from where Officer John Gaines had been killed in 1913.

Officer Allen is buried in Round Rock Cemetery, Williamson County, Texas.

Officer Allen served with the Austin Police Department for less than two years.