Roll of Honor
Dock McDavid
Incident
Deputized Civilian Dock McDavid was deputized to assist the constable in arresting a subject on a charge of using abusive language.
The subject was well known in the community and feared by many people. The constable and his deputy went to the subject's home about 5 miles from Paige and arrested him without incident. The subject was seated between the two lawmen in a buggy en route to Paige. The constable reported that the subject made a sudden move to escape and was halfway out of the buggy when Deputy McDavid seized him. The constable was trying to manage his team of horses when he saw the prisoner attempting to grab McDavid's pistol. With his free hand, the constable pulled his pistol and shot at the prisoner but struck the deputy in the chest. McDavid reportedly cried out, "You've killed me for the man." McDavid staggered and fell against the wagon wheels, relinquishing his hold on the prisoner. McDavid expired in a few minutes. As the prisoner fled, Constable Dunbar jumped from the buggy and shot him twice, killing him.
Constable Dunbar was arrested and placed in the county jail. Dunbar waived an examining trial and was released on a $2,500 bond for the subject's death and $1,000 for the death of Deputy McDavid. On January 8, 1910, a jury acquitted Constable Dunbar in the death of McNeil, and the District Attorney dismissed the case against the constable for the death of McDavid.
Dock McDavid had served with the Bastrop County Constable's Office - Precinct 8 for one day.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four small children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-CD1A01C1- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputized Civilian McDavid served with the Bastrop County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bastrop community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputized Civilian McDavid.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputized Civilian Dock McDavid is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dock McDavid's cause is highlighted.
How Dock McDavid Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Dock McDavid is highlighted in Aug.