Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Ulysses "Buck" Dobson, Sr.

Hartsville Department of Public Safety — Hartsville, SC

Felonious

End of Watch April 20, 1953

Age 45

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Dobson succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous night after responding to a call from a woman who was being beaten by her husband. When Patrolman Dobson arrived at the scene the husband ran into the backyard and hid. Patrolman Dobson also ran into the backyard in pursuit and was shot by the man with a shotgun as he came in between the two houses. Patrolman Dobson was transported to Byerly Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following day. The suspect turned himself in two days after the shooting. Patrolman Dobson had served with the Hartsville Department of Public Safety for 2 years. He was the first African-American officer to serve with the agency.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-FDD405F2
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.
Patrolman Dobson gave the Hartsville Department of Public Safety 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dobson.

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

Agency

Department Hartsville Department of Public Safety

Location Hartsville, SC

Platform Identity hdps.darlington.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 20, 1953

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Arrested

Patrolman Ulysses "Buck" Dobson, Sr. 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Hartsville Department of Public Safety

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ulysses "Buck" Dobson, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Ulysses "Buck" Dobson, Sr. Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Arrested

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ulysses "Buck" Dobson, Sr. is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ulysses "Buck" Dobson, Sr. was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518