Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer W. Roy Thornton was shot and killed while arresting a man for a misdemeanor near the intersection of Pryor Street and Lloyd Street. Another officer arrived and asked if he needed help. At the same moment a friend of the arrestee arrived and opened fire with a 10 gauge shotgun, striking both officers. Officer Thornton was killed and the other officer was wounded. The man escaped and was never captured. Officer Thornton had served with the Dallas Police Department for two years and was survived by his wife. He is buried in Provence Cemetery east of Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Survivors
Officer Thornton had served with the Dallas Police Department for two years and was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-9BBD8947- 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 gave the Dallas Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dallas 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 W. Roy 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Dallas Police Department, 55 of 95 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. Roy Thornton's cause is highlighted.
How W. Roy Thornton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. Roy Thornton is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. W. Roy Thornton was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
94 officers from Dallas Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
