Prior to serving as Assistant Constable, John D. Thompson had served on the Night Watch.  He was definitely appointed to the position in January of 1866, although it is possible that he served prior to that as well; mentions of city service took second place to news of the war in previous years.  He rose in the ranks very quickly, subsequently being elected to Assistant Constable in March of the same year. In January of 1867, Thompson was elected Chief of Police, with Edward E. Harris as his assistant.
For his services, Chief Thompson received $60 a month, which was duly recorded in the notes of the city commissioner’s meeting, printed in a local paper.  Thompson remained chief until February of 1868, when the former assistant, E. E. Harris, was elected.  The new assistant constable was M. B. Barbee, and even the former Night Watch Chief was replaced with Howell Moss.   The split between John Thompson and the city government does not appear to be an amicable one; in late February, there was a “Committee appointed to audit the accounts of J. D. Thompson, former constable.”  The audit found that he owed the city more than $350, having collected fees that were not turned over to the City Treasurer.  By March, his bond was “placed in the hands of the City Attorney for collection,” indicating that he was found liable for some breach of his oath of office.  This collection may be related to a warrant served against a John Thompson on the charge that he “did participate in hanging W. W. Holden in effigy, or did give aid or encouragement to the parties so doing."  (Willliam Woods Holden was serving as North Carolina governor at the time.)



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