Lem G. Thompson
Agency patch
Detective

Lem G. Thompson

Felonious
End of Watch December 12, 1915
Age 39
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 30 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Lem Thompson was stabbed by a suspect he had just arrested for disorderly conduct around 10:00 p.m. Detective Thompson and his partner were working in plainclothes when they arrested two men who were drunk and causing a disturbance. They were walking them to a phone to call for a paddy wagon when Detective Thompson's prisoner produced a knife and stabbed him several times in the alley between 12th and 11th Avenues on Pearl Street. His partner shot and killed the suspect. Detective Tompson was transferred to the city hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Detective Thompson had served with the Nashville City Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Thompson gave the Nashville City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Thompson.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Nashville, Davidson County, TN
Platform Identity npd.davidson.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 12, 1915
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Lem is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1915, 152 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Lem was 39. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Lem had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Nashville City Police Department has 22 officers remembered here, Lem among them.

VI

Where

Detective Lem G. Thompson

Nashville City Police Department · End of Watch December 12, 1915

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-W

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