Burton Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 5, 1983
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 13
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 5, 1983
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Patrolman Terry Thompson was shot and killed while responding to a burglary alarm at a local store.
The store's alarm monitoring company heard voices inside the store and notified the manager and police department. The manager let Patrolman Thompson into the store to search it and then waited by the front door. Moments later one of the two 16-year-old subjects who were inside shot Patrolman Thompson.
Other officers surrounded the store but were unable to rescue him for two hours, but he had already passed away from his wounds.
His killer was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. An accomplice was convicted of breaking and entering and later released from prison. The juvenile who was sentenced to life in prison was re-sentenced to between 40 to 60 years in 2021.
Patrolman Thompson was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Burton Police Department for eight years. He was survived by his wife, parents, sister, and brother.