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Thomas Glen Tompkins
Agency patch
Patrolman

Thomas Glen Tompkins

Shreveport Police Department — Shreveport, LA
Felonious
United States flag Louisiana flag
End of Watch October 20, 1978
Age 31
Tour of Duty 8 mo
Badge 873
The Vigil Panel 120 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 29

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Tompkins was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner to jail around 9:40 p.m. The man had just been arrested by other officers for creating a disturbance at the Dragon Lounge. During the initial investigation, the suspect was placed in the patrol car without being searched or cuffed. It is believed that while in the patrol car, he put the handgun he was carrying in the crack between the seats of the vehicle. He was then removed from the patrol car, searched, handcuffed, and returned to the car. Patrolman Tompkins was pulling away from the scene when the suspect pulled the gun from between the seats and shot him around the 7300 block of Mansfield Road. The officer fell out of the driver's door, and the suspect climbed over the driver's seat and exited the vehicle as well. The man, who was an escapee from a state prison in Maryland, fled but was later apprehended after being shot and wounded by other officers. He was convicted of murdering Patrolman Tompkins, sentenced to death, and executed. Patrolman Tompkins had served with the Shreveport Police Department for eight months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Patrolman Tompkins served with the Shreveport Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Shreveport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Tompkins.

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

Agency

Department Shreveport Police Department
Type Other
Location Shreveport, Bossier Parish, LA
Platform Identity spd.caddo.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 20, 1978
Tour of Duty 8 mo
Age 31
Badge Number 873
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Thomas 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1978, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 31. 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. Thomas had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Shreveport Police Department has 30 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Thomas Glen Tompkins

Shreveport Police Department · End of Watch October 20, 1978

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E

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