Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Virgle Thompson was shot and killed while questioning a suspicious male near the railroad tracks at Milwaukee Street. Backup units located Sergeant Thompson suffering from several gunshot wounds. They found his empty service revolver and an the empty 9 mm Luger pistol the suspect shot him with. As the suspect fled Sergeant Thompson fired all six shots. A suspect, 32, was arrested and hospitalized with two gun shot wounds in his back. On March 26, 1963, his wife came to visit him in jail. He asked permission to kiss her. Instead he plunged a piece of wire sharpened into a spike into her cheek. The cut required 12 stitches and she was left with a permanent scar. The man was first found guilty of transporting illegal liquor and sentenced to two years in the county jail. He was later convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years. Sergeant Thompson had been employed with the Plainview Police Department for four years. He is survived by his wife and daughter. He was a military policeman at Fort Smith, Arkansas, at one time.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-9ED9E66E- Stewardship
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- 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.
Sergeant Thompson gave the Plainview Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Plainview community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Thompson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Virgle Lee 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 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Virgle Lee Thompson's cause is highlighted.
How Virgle Lee Thompson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 25 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Virgle Lee Thompson is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Virgle Lee Thompson was killed by handgun; 9 mm.