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Deputy Sheriff

Jess Thompson

Raleigh County Sheriff's Office — Beckley, WV

Felonious

End of Watch July 7, 1938

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 75 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Thompson was shot and killed as he and a civilian conducted surveillance on a cave where stolen property had been stored. When the suspect returned a shootout ensued in which Deputy Thompson and the suspect were killed. Deputy Thompson had served with the agency for 6 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-1FD9BC88
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Thompson gave the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Beckley community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Thompson.

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

Agency

Department Raleigh County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Beckley, Raleigh County, WV

Platform Identity rcso.raleigh.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 7, 1938

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Deputy Sheriff Jess Thompson is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.

In WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.9 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Raleigh County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Raleigh County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jess Thompson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,094 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How Jess Thompson Compares

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jess Thompson is highlighted in Jul.

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. Jess Thompson was killed by gun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Raleigh County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.