Roll of Honor
Joe M. Thomason Sr.
Incident
Chief of Police Joe Thomason was shot and killed while making a traffic stop of a drunk and reckless driver on US Highway 78, two miles from Potts Camp, at 3:30 pm. The subject plead guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to life without parole. Chief Thomason was a United States Navy Vietnam veteran who had served with the Potts Camp Police Department for one year and previously served with the Verona Police Department and Fulton Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-41FD5ED0- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Thomason gave the Potts Camp Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Potts Camp community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joe M. Thomason Sr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Chief of Police Joe M. Thomason Sr. 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 69.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe M. Thomason Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Joe M. Thomason Sr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe M. Thomason Sr. is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe M. Thomason Sr. was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Joe M. Thomason Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joe M. Thomason Sr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Potts Camp Police Department are honored on badge.nw.