William Thompson

1935 - 2023

WILLIAM (BILL) MILLER THOMPSON

February 23, 1935 December 12, 2023

William (Bill) Miller Thompson entered the arms of his Savior on December 12, 2023. Bill was born on February 23, 1935, in Tulare, California, and raised by God fearing parents in Avenal, California.

Bill is survived by his daughter Ty Walsh and her daughters Mo (Walsh) Wallace and husband J.D. and their son Carter, and Erin (Walsh) Perlman and husband Eric and daughter Genevieve; daughter Connie Brazeau and her husband Marc and their son James Brazeau, daughter Shiina (Duff) Limoges and her children Peyton, Olyvia and Piper, and daughter Kelly (Brazeau) Miller and husband Justin and their son Hunter James Miller; son Timothy Thompson and his daughter Patti Thompson; daughter Teresa Jelletich and her husband Patrick and their daughters Michelle Jelletich and Jacqueline Caviness and her husband Kent and their sons Bryson and Dylan. Bill was blessed to also have Larissa Arbashevskaya (the daughter of his last marriage) in his life. Bill is also survived by his brother Gary Thompson and wife Sally, sister Liz (Thompson) Tackett and husband Bill, and sister Kathy (Thompson) DeFrese. Bill was preceded in death by the love of his life, Jacqueline (Pattie) Thompson, who passed away at the age of 43. Bill always credited her for any successes he had in his life. Bill was also preceded in death by his parents Miller and Elsie (Cox) Thompson, Bill's brother Patrick Thompson, Bill's son-in-law Bob Walsh, and Bill's brother-in-law Frenchie DeFrese.

Bill graduated from Avenal High School in Avenal in 1953. From 1955 to 1961, Bill worked for Halliburton and Standard Oil in Kettleman Hills.

In 1961, Bill and his young family moved to Bakersfield, California, and Bill joined the Bakersfield Police Department as a walking beat officer. Bill's badge number was 124. During his police career, Bill was a Patrol Officer, Desk Sgt., Detective in Juvenile, Burglary Detail, Vice/Narcotics, Vice Sgt., Field Sgt., Watch Commander Lieutenant, Chief's Administrative Lieutenant, Captain of the Technical Services Division, and finally the Assistant Chief of Police in charge of Operations Division until his retirement in 1987.

As a Field Sgt., Bill commanded the Department's first special team formed in 1971, called the Green Team, assigned to high crime areas, in uniform or civilian clothing depending on the crime statistics. At Bakersfield Police Department, as Special Crime Prevention Team Leader, Bill initiated and directed PAYS (Police and Youth Softball) throughout the City school systems. Bill was also a Leader of the Black Ministries Association with uniformed officers attending churches and barbecues.

In 1973, Bill was a Sergeant in charge of Bakersfield Police Department's first SWAT Team which attended the FBI Academy's SWAT Training in Quantico, VA.

In 1975, Bill graduated from Bakersfield College with an AA Degree, and in 1978, Bill graduated with a BA degree from the University of Redlands.

In 1978, Bill attended and graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. In 1986, Bill attended the U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection School in Maryland, which included his third VIP tour of the White House where he had the honor to meet and shake hands with President Ronald Reagan. Bill taught Narcotics, Officer Survival and Observations/Patrol Techniques at Kern County Law Enforcement Training Academy for 17 years, often selected by the recruits as the Academy's Outstanding Instructor.

After retirement in 1987, Bill went to work as the Human Resources Director for a trucking/excavation company (Sturgeon and Sons), retiring a second time in 2007. Bill also taught at Bakersfield College for two years and was a guest lecturer at Cal State Bakersfield.

Bill has been a member of Valley Baptist Church for the past 29 years, but Bill stated he was a mere pew sitter until June 6, 2008. On that date, Bill fervently prayed for forgiveness, repented, and asked for and received the Lord Jesus Christ into his life, thus his name was then sealed into the Book of Life. It was the most joy-filled occasion of his life, one he shared with his family and friends. Bill knew he would embrace Pattie again, plus his family and friends in Christ.

Services will be held at Valley Baptist Church, 4800 Fruitvale, Bakersfield, California, on January 3, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Join us for a celebration of Bill's life to be held at the American Legion, 2020 H Street in Bakersfield, from 12:00 to 5:30 p.m.

www.bakersfield.com/obits