Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Joe M. Thomason, Sr.

Potts Camp Police Department — Potts Camp, MS

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 8, 1993

Age 43

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 139 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief of Police Joe Thomason was shot and killed while making a traffic stop of a drunk and reckless driver on US Highway 78, two miles from Potts Camp, at 3:30 pm. The subject plead guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to life without parole. Chief Thomason was a United States Navy Vietnam veteran who had served with the Potts Camp Police Department for one year and previously served with the Verona Police Department and Fulton Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-41FD5ED0
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

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Thomason gave the Potts Camp Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Potts Camp community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Potts Camp Police Department

Location Potts Camp, MS

Platform Identity pcpd.marshall.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 8, 1993

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Joe M. Thomason, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Chief of Police Joe M. Thomason, Sr. 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Potts Camp Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe M. Thomason, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Joe M. Thomason, Sr. Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe M. Thomason, Sr. is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe M. Thomason, Sr. was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518