Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Marshal Robert Thompson was stabbed to death after arresting a man for being drunk in public.
As he walked the man to the jail the subject suddenly refused to go any further and pulled out a knife. Marshal Thompson summoned the help of a citizen and the two attempted to talk the man into putting the knife down. When he refused, Marshal Thompson hit him with his cane.
The man then struck Marshal Thompson in the chest and arm with the knife. The wound to the arm severed an artery. Marshal Thompson ran to a nearby drug store where he collapsed and died.
The suspect fled the scene but was arrested a short time later.
Marshal Thompson had served with the Hardinsburg Police Department for two years.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-KY-4BDB5DA7- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
136 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Town Marshal Thompson gave the Hardinsburg Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hardinsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal Robert Edward Thompson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Edward Thompson's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Edward Thompson Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Edward Thompson is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Edward Thompson was killed by edged weapon; knife.