David Allen Thurman
Agency patch
Patrol Officer

David Allen Thurman

Pineville Police Department — Pineville, MO
Felonious
End of Watch April 14, 1991
Age 21
Badge 4
The Vigil Panel 137 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrol Officer David Thurman was shot and killed while he and the town marshal were questioning suspects about vehicle tampering. At 1:oo a.m., Officer Thurman and the city marshal were on patrol when they witnessed two men carrying a tire iron in the parking lot of Cooper's Market on Interstate 71. When they asked the men to provide identification, one of the men struck the marshal in the head with a crowbar, and a scuffle ensued. One of the men took Officer Thurman's gun and shot him twice in the head before fleeing. Two suspects were arrested. In 1993, one of the suspects who was charged with second-degree murder pleaded guilty to a Class C felony of stealing. The other suspect pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life without parole. Officer Thurman was one of four police officers, comprising two part-time and two full-time officers.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, parents, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-83D16B9B
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrol Officer Thurman served with the Pineville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Thurman.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Pineville, McDonald County, MO
Platform Identity ppd.mcdonald.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 14, 1991
Age 21
Badge Number 4
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Patrol Officer David Allen Thurman is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Pineville Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Allen Thurman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How David Allen Thurman Compares

Age at Death
21
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Allen Thurman is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Allen Thurman was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Pineville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.