Virgil W. Dobbs Jr.
Chief of Police

Virgil W. Dobbs Jr.

Midland City Police Department — Midland City, AL
Veteran → Accident
End of Watch March 4, 1997
Age 44
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 601
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Virgil Dobbs was killed in an automobile crash while on duty. Chief Dobbs was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Midland City Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-9739271F
Stewardship
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 Virgil. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Virgil is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Dobbs gave the Midland City Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Midland City community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Midland City, Dale County, AL
Platform Identity mpd.dale.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 4, 1997
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 44
Badge Number 601
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Virgil W. Dobbs Jr. served in the U.S. Navy (1971–1975) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Chief of Police Virgil W. Dobbs Jr. is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In AL, 182 of 643 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.3% of this state's fallen. That is 28.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Midland City Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Midland City Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Accident
AL — Statewide
182
of 643 officers
28.3% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Virgil W. Dobbs Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Virgil W. Dobbs Jr. Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Virgil W. Dobbs Jr. is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Military Service

Virgil W. Dobbs Jr. served in the U.S. Navy (1971–1975) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Virgil W. Dobbs Jr.’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Midland City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.