A Tribute to Officer Molly Thomas Bowden

Officer Molly Thomas Bowden

End of Watch: February 10, 2005

Officer Molly Thomas Bowden was mortally wounded while conducting a routine traffic stop on the night of January 10, 2005. The traffic stop occurred at the corners of Nifong and Forum Boulevards around 10 p.m. Officer Bowden was shot three times after pulling over Richard Evans, a 23-year-old student at Columbia College. Evans would drive off and was on the loose for a short time. Later on in the night, Officer Curtis Brown was in pursuit of Evans by foot, and Evans shot Officer Brown in the arm before taking his own life. Officers were able to find Evans because the car video camera recorded Evans’ license plates. Officer Brown would be treated at University Hospital, and would be released. Officer Brown was later awarded the Ribbon of Valor for his actions. Officer Bowden was treated at University Hospital as well. She was put in a drug induced coma to fight an infection and would never recover. She passed away on February 10, 2005 at the age of 26. Officer Bowden had been on the force for over three years and was the first Columbia Police Officer killed in the line of duty.

She is the daughter of Dave and Beverley Thomas of Rocheport. She was a graduate of Hickman High School. She was a 2002 graduate of Columbia College with a degree in Criminal Justice Administration. She was a University Police Officer when she met her husband-to-be, Cory Bowden. She left the University Police and joined Cory at the Columbia Police Department. Molly and Cory married in July 2003. In her memoriam there is an annual Officer MollyThomas Bowden Blood Drive. Columbia College established the Molly S. Thomas Bowden Memorial Scholarship, which provides a scholarship to a female majoring in Criminal Justice Administration or Forensic Science.