Officer W. Roy Thornton, Dallas Police Department, Texas

Officer W. Roy Thornton

Dallas Police Department, Texas

End of Watch Wednesday, January 12, 1916

W. Roy Thornton

Officer W. Roy Thornton was shot and killed while arresting a man for a misdemeanor near the intersection of Pryor Street and Lloyd Street. Another officer arrived and asked if he needed help. At the same moment a friend of the arrestee arrived and opened fire with a 10 gauge shotgun, striking both officers. Officer Thornton was killed and the other officer was wounded. The man escaped and was never captured.

Officer Thornton had served with the Dallas Police Department for two years and was survived by his wife. He is buried in Provence Cemetery east of Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Bio

Age 27
Tour 2 years
Badge 115

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun; 10 gauge
Offender Escaped

ambush

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Most Recent Reflection

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Officer Thornton was one of the first, if not the first, of a too-long line of Dallas Police Officers just doing their jobs who lost their lives in so doing..

Rest in Peace, Sir. We have the watch.

Det. Douglas Collins Ret.
Dallas Police Dept.

January 12, 2016