Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Dobson succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day while arresting a man who was impersonating a constable.
As Deputy Dobson removed the badge the man was wearing the man pulled out a handgun and shot him four times. He was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day.
The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The local justice of the peace was convicted of aiding and abetting the suspect. He was also convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years. In November of 1913 the Arizona Supreme Court reversed his conviction.
Deputy Dobson had served with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children and is buried in Holy Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum, Tuscon, Arizona.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-B5C70551- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Dobson gave the Pinal County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Florence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dobson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Dobson 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pinal County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Dobson's cause is highlighted.
How William Dobson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 20 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Dobson is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Dobson was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Pinal County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
