Jack L. Thompson
Agency patch
Correctional Officer

Jack L. Thompson

Felonious
End of Watch June 11, 1979
Age 43
Tour of Duty 7 mo
The Vigil Panel 121 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Thompson was shot and killed with his own service revolver in the Hutchinson County Jail after being overpowered by two inmates, 23 and 26, when he opened their cell door. After shooting Officer Thompson, the two men took his gun and keys and fled the jail. They were both arrested the following day. They were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison but had their convictions overturned. On November 7, 1985, during a second trial one of the suspects was acquitted and the other was sentenced to 45 years.

Survivors

Officer Thompson had been with the agency for 7 months and was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-F690271D
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.
Correctional Officer Thompson served with the Hutchinson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Borger community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Thompson.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Borger, Hutchinson County, TX
Platform Identity hcso.hutchinson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 11, 1979
Tour of Duty 7 mo
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Correctional Officer Jack L. Thompson 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Hutchinson County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Hutchinson County Sheriff's Office
3
of 5 officers
60% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% 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. Jack L. Thompson's cause is highlighted.

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

How Jack L. Thompson Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jack L. Thompson is highlighted in Jun.

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. Jack L. Thompson was killed by officer's handgun.

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