Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper James Thornton was shot and killed while checking on a hitchhiker on I-70 near Topeka, Kansas. The suspect was wanted in New York for the murder of his father. The suspect was shot and killed by other officers when he refused to surrender. Trooper Thornton had served with the Kansas Highway Patrol for 24 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-D4B08255- 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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Trooper Thornton gave the Kansas Highway Patrol 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kansas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Thornton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper James Donald Thornton 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Kansas Highway Patrol, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Donald Thornton's cause is highlighted.
How James Donald Thornton Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Donald Thornton is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Donald Thornton was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Kansas Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw.
