W. Roy Thornton

Dallas Police Department — Dallas, TX

Felonious

End of Watch January 12, 1916

Age 27

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Badge 115

The Vigil Panel 30 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 94

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: 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.
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

Department Dallas Police Department

Location Dallas, TX

Platform Identity dpd.dallas.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 12, 1916

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 27

Badge Number 115

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 10 gauge

Offender Escaped

Officer W. Roy 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Dallas Police Department

of 95 officers

57.9% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious