Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Thornton and Officer William Newberry were shot and killed in Campbell Park by a drunk man whom they had ordered to leave a carnival earlier in the evening. The man returned to the park and shot both officers. Officer Thornton was killed at the scene and Officer Newberry died the following day. The suspect was shot and killed a short time later by another officer. Officer Thornton was killed on his first day as a police officer.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-CCAA60D4- 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.
Officer Thornton served with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Petersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Thornton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer James W. Thornton 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At St. Petersburg Police Department, 12 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James W. Thornton's cause is highlighted.
How James W. Thornton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James W. Thornton is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James W. Thornton was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from St. Petersburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
