Incident
Police Officer Hoska Thompson died of exposure while serving civil papers in the area of Sawmill, Arizona, on October 20th, 1949.
His body was found in the wooded area of Sawmill Road the following day.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Thompson served with the Navajo Division of Public Safety.
Thank you for your service to the Window Rock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Thompson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Navajo Division of Public Safety has lost 17 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Hoska is one of 95 officers lost to accidents in AZ, 28.8% of the 330 remembered there.
Hoska is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Hoska is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1949, 1 officer at Navajo Division of Public Safety was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1949, 1 officer in AZ was lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 56 years on record. The heaviest was 1973, with 5.
In 1949, 45 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 103rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1949, 54 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 99th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Hoska was 60. Of the 5 lost to accidents at Navajo Division of Public Safety whose age is recorded, half were between 24 and 41; the middle age was 30.
Hoska was 60. Of the 92 lost to accidents in AZ whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 34.5.
Hoska was 60. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
Hoska was 60. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
October holds 20% of these deaths at Navajo Division of Public Safety; August holds the most, 40%. Thursdays: 20%.
October holds 11.6% of these deaths in AZ; November holds the most, 14.7%. Thursdays: 20%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 29.4% of all 17 deaths at Navajo Division of Public Safety, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.8% of all 330 deaths in AZ, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Navajo Division of Public Safety has 17 officers remembered here, Hoska among them.
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Hoska Thompson
Oct 20, 1949
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Gordon C. James
Aug 30, 1960
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Burton Begay Nov 17, 1975
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Loren Whitehat, Sr.
May 10, 1979
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Andy Begay
Dec 5, 1987
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Roy Lee Stanley
Dec 5, 1987
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Hoskie Allen Gene
Jan 6, 1996
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Samuel Anthony Redhouse
Feb 17, 1997
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Esther Todacheene
Jun 8, 1998
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Winsonfred A. Filfred
Apr 2, 1999
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Darrell Cervandez Curley
Jun 26, 2011
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Ernest Jesus Montoya, SR
Nov 30, 2014
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Alexander K. Yazzie
Mar 19, 2015
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LeAnder Frank
Aug 30, 2016
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Houston James Largo
Mar 12, 2017
-
Michael Lee
Jun 18, 2020
-
Esther Charley
Jun 22, 2020
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Navajo Division of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw.














