Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Dobyns was shot and killed while raiding a gambling house. Four days later the suspect was shot and killed by officers at a house on 14th Street.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-408CE856- 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.
Officer Dobyns served with the Birmingham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Dobyns.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Sam P. Dobyns is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Birmingham Police Dept., 34 of 49 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sam P. Dobyns's cause is highlighted.
How Sam P. Dobyns Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sam P. Dobyns is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sam P. Dobyns was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
48 officers from Birmingham Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
