Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain William Thompson was killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while attempting to rescue the victims trapped in the World Trade Center.
He had been employed with the New York State Office of Court Administration for 27 years, and was an instructor at the Court Officers Academy.
September 11, 2001
Captain William Thompson was killed at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001. He was 51 years old.
He is one of 72 officers honored here, and one of 3 at New York State Office of Court Administration.
Seventy-two law enforcement officers from eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001, alongside 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and more than 2,800 civilians. A fourth aircraft went down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where a law enforcement officer aboard was among the dead.
Officers went into the towers while everyone else was coming out. More than 25,000 people reached safety because they did.
Survivors
He is survived by his two sons and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-3DEDA382- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You went in while everyone else was coming out.
Captain Thompson gave the New York State Office of Court Administration 27 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Thompson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain William 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At New York State Office of Court Administration, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Thompson's cause is highlighted.
How William Thompson Compares
Offender Outcome
19 suicide attackers
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Thompson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Thompson was killed by aircraft; passenger jet.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from New York State Office of Court Administration are honored on badge.nw.
