Alhambra PD to credit Capt. Marion Thompson with shooting suspected cop killer in 1936

The Alhambra Police Department today will officially credit the late Capt. Marion L. Thompson with fatally shooting the suspected killer of a department officer in 1936.

On Jan. 3, 1933, bandits getting ready to blow up the safe at the Alhambra Theatre shot and killed Patrolman James H. Nerison, who was among four officers who surprised the robbers. The robbers escaped.

Thompson fatally shot an El Monte bank robber on Feb. 8, 1936, who was identified as Nerison's killer.

Thompson made no bones about his satisfaction upon learning he had killed his fellow Alhambra police officer's murderer, according to his daughter, Collene Thompson Campbell, a crime victims rights advocate and former San Juan Capistrano mayor.

"In those days police took an oath to revenge the killing of a fellow police officer," Campbell said. She said her father always wanted to get credit for taking down the murderer.

A recognition ceremony on behalf on Thompson, who died in 1967, will be held at 9 a.m. at the Alhambra Police Station, at 211 S. First St.

Thompson was the father of auto racing legend Mickey Thompson, who was murdered with his wife Trudy in March 1988. The man found responsible for the deaths was not convicted until 19 years later.