Presidio County 1973-1991
Sheriff Richard Dee Thompson
Richard Dee “Rick” Thompson was born February 23, 1946 in Wood County, Texas. Sheriff Thompson was appointed Sheriff of Presidio County, Texas after Sheriff Hamilton was killed in April 1973.
Sheriff Thompson worked in law enforcement in Alaska, with the El Paso Police Department, and in Brewster County before being appointed as Presidio County Sheriff in 1973. He served several terms until his arrest on federal drug charges in 1991. He pled guilty and was sentenced to life in federal prison. His sentence was reduced to 30 years and he was released in 2018.
Richard Dee “Rick” Thompson photo courtesy of Carl C. Williams collection