Charles F. Dotson
Sergeant

Charles F. Dotson

Baton Rouge Police Department — Baton Rouge, LA
End of Watch January 24, 2021
Age 58
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Charles Dotson died of complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Sergeant Dotson was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Gulf War. He had served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for 22 years and had previously served with the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Sergeant Charles F. Dotson died on January 24, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 58.

He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 2 at Baton Rouge Police Department.

Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.

Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, nephew, and father.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at requiem.nw, salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 3 gates. Charles is one person.

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Tributes

The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Sergeant Dotson gave the Baton Rouge Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baton Rouge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Dotson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Platform Identity brpd.ebr.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 24, 2021
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Age 58
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness
Cause Detail COVID19

Military Service

Charles F. Dotson served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Illness

Charles is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2021, 564 officers in the United States were lost to illness, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 58. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Charles had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Sundays: 14.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Baton Rouge Police Department has 27 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

VI

Where

Sergeant Charles F. Dotson

Baton Rouge Police Department · End of Watch January 24, 2021

Military Service

Charles F. Dotson served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

Visit Charles F. Dotson’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E

Also Remembered

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →

salute.nw →

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