Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Ohio Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available
Detective Charles Thurston was shot and killed in Columbus, Ohio, while attempting to arrest boxcar thieves in the Pennsylvania Railroad rail yards near Jefferson Avenue.
Several railroad workers heard a number of gunshots at approximately 8:00 pm. Detective Thurston's body was found two hours later behind the Columbus Barracks sustaining eight gunshot wounds to the back.
Detective Thurston had served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police for a total of five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-5B0B9996- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Thurston gave the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphpia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Thurston.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Charles S. Thurston 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, 13 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles S. Thurston's cause is highlighted.
How Charles S. Thurston Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles S. Thurston is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles S. Thurston was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
