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Urby Joe Thompson
Agency patch
Officer

Urby Joe Thompson

Waco Police Department — Waco, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch July 24, 1933
Age 38
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 66 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 10

Incident

Officer Thompson was shot and killed while investigating a disturbance in a parking lot. He was walking into a cafe when he observed the disturbance and walked over to the truck to investigate. The man inside shot him in the head, killing him instantly. Another officer who was nearby heard the shot, responded to the scene, and arrested the suspect. On August 26, 1933, the suspect, 51, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years. He was paroled on September 7, 1944. Officer Thompson had served with the agency for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Officer Thompson gave the Waco Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Thompson.

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

Agency

Department Waco Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Waco, McLennan County, TX
Platform Identity wacopd.mclennan.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 24, 1933
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Urby 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 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Urby was 38. 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. Urby had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Waco Police Department has 11 officers remembered here, Urby among them.

Across the years

Officer Urby Joe Thompson

Waco Police Department · End of Watch July 24, 1933

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-W

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