Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Thomas Thornton was shot and killed while attempting to serve a writ on a man.
The man was apprehended, convicted of Sheriff Thornton's murder, and subsequently hung on November 26th, 1830.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-A5FE0C05- 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
196 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Thornton served with the Caroline County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bowling Green community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Thomas Griffin 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 VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Caroline 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Griffin Thornton's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Griffin Thornton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Griffin Thornton is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Griffin Thornton was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Caroline County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
