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
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Charles. Claim this record.
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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Charles F. Dotson served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Illness
Baton Rouge Police Department has lost 27 officers; 2 of them lost to illness.
Charles is one of 28 officers lost to illness in LA, 4.7% of the 595 remembered there.
Charles is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Charles is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2021, 4 officers in LA were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 2020, with 19.
In 2021, 564 officers in the United States were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 566 officers worldwide were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
Who
Charles was 58. Of the 28 lost to illness in LA whose age is recorded, half were between 39.8 and 65; the middle age was 56. Charles had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 22 years.
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.
Charles was 58. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Charles had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
January holds 7.1% of these deaths in LA; April holds the most, 25%. Sundays: 21.4%.
January holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Sundays: 14.2%.
January holds 9.9% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Sundays: 13.2%.
How
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27 deaths at Baton Rouge Police Department, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 4.7% of all 595 deaths in LA, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Baton Rouge Police Department has 27 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
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J. B. Hare
Nov 16, 1911
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Joseph Mareno
Sep 18, 1923
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Frank E. Schoonmaker
Oct 24, 1931
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George W. Bannister
Mar 3, 1966
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Joseph E. Sanchez
Jun 6, 1966
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J. D. Blackwell
Feb 4, 1968
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Thomas R. Fancher
Sep 10, 1968
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Dennis R. Heap
Jun 1, 1972
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Karl F. Bourgoyne
Jul 14, 1977
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Linda A. Lawrence
Aug 1, 1977
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Carl Robert D'Abadie, Sr.
Apr 6, 1984
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Charles David Stegall
Jun 14, 1988
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Warren Joseph Broussard
Jun 21, 1988
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Betty Dunn Smothers
Jan 7, 1993
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Vickie Salassi Wax
May 22, 2004
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Terry Lee Melancon, Jr.
Aug 10, 2005
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Christopher Michael Metternich
Aug 14, 2006
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Mark A. Beck
Feb 25, 2008
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Montrell Lyle Jackson
Jul 17, 2016
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Matthew Lane Gerald
Jul 17, 2016
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Shane Michael Totty
Feb 1, 2019
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Glenn Dale Hutto, Jr.
Apr 26, 2020
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Charles F. Dotson
Jan 24, 2021
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Michael Stephen Godawa
Aug 1, 2021
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David Poirrier
Mar 26, 2023
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Scotty Canezaro
Mar 26, 2023
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Caleb Eisworth
Aug 10, 2025
Where
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
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Baton Rouge Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















