On a September evening in 1986, Crossville Police Department Patrolman Stevie L. Thompson, a 29-year-old male, was conducting a traffic stop on Justice Street. He had pulled over a female driver on suspicion of driving under the influence. After arresting the woman, her two adult sons, who were also in the vehicle and intoxicated, confronted the officer. A physical altercation ensued, during which one of the sons managed to gain control of Patrolman Thompson's service weapon.
The son then fatally shot Patrolman Thompson in the head. The three family members fled the scene after freeing the mother from custody. Their freedom was short-lived, however, as all three were apprehended a short time later.
The son responsible for the shooting was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Patrolman Thompson. He has been denied parole on multiple occasions, most recently in January 2023, with his next parole hearing scheduled for January 2028. At the time of his death, Patrolman Thompson had only been with the Crossville Police Department for four weeks, having previously served with the Geraldine and Collinsville Police Departments. He was survived by his expectant wife and a young daughter; his second daughter was born three months after his death.
