Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Charley Dunn was shot and mortally wounded by a man who had just shot a state senator and a state assemblyman on Main Street.
The man became enraged when the senator told him that he never received a letter that he had mailed to him. He produced a handgun and shot both men, wounding them. He then shot and mortally wounded Chief Dunn, who was standing nearby. Chief Dunn died three days later. The assailant was arrested and charged with Chief Dunn's murder.
The 68-year-old suspect was convicted of Chief Dunn's murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He died two years later.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NC-C1DF0B8C- 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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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Dunn gave the Scotland Neck Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Scotland Neck community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Dunn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Charles Wells Dunn is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Scotland Neck Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Wells Dunn's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Wells Dunn Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Wells Dunn is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Wells Dunn was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Scotland Neck Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
