Dana L. Thompson

In Memoriam of Chief of Police
Dana L. Thompson, Manchester Police Department
End of Watch: Tuesday, December 12, 1972

“A Part of America Died”

Somebody killed a policeman today and
A part of America died
A piece of our country we swore to protect
Will be buried with him at his side
The suspect who shot him will stand up in court,
With counsel demanding his rights
While a young widowed mother must work for her kids,
The beat that he walked was a battlefield too,
Just as if he’d gone off to war
Though the flag of our nation won’t fly at half mast,
To his name they will add a gold star
Yep, somebody killed a Policeman today,
In your town or mine
While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,
A cop put his life on the line
Now his ghost walks the beat on a dark city street,
And he stands at each new rookies side
He answered the call, of himself gave his all
And a part of America died.