Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Charlie Thornton was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two men across the street from the Butts County Courthouse. Both men were convicted of his murder and sentenced to death. They were both executed in the electric chair on December 9, 1938. Chief Thornton had served as chief of the Jackson Police Department for at least eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-A227B31B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Thornton gave the Jackson Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Thornton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Charlie T. Thornton is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charlie T. Thornton's cause is highlighted.
How Charlie T. Thornton Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1938
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charlie T. Thornton is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charlie T. Thornton was killed by gun; unknown type.