William Jefferson Dorsey

Hall County Sheriff's Office — Gainesville, GA

Felonious

End of Watch February 26, 1920

Age 42

The Vigil Panel 38 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Dorsey was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two men for creating a disturbance at the Gainesville Cotton Mills.

The two men were leaving as he arrived at the mills and he attempted to follow them. A struggle ensued in which one of the men shot Deputy Dorsey in the stomach. He was taken to a local hospital where he died two hours later.

The two subjects were arrested and charged with Deputy Dorsey's murder. One was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The second was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years.

Deputy Dorsey was survived by his wife and six children.

Survivors

Deputy Dorsey was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-B0DBEF43
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 Dorsey served with the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Gainesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dorsey.

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

Agency

Department Hall County Sheriff's Office

Location Gainesville, GA

Platform Identity hcso.hall.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 26, 1920

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Sheriff William Jefferson Dorsey 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Hall County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Hall County Sheriff's Office

of 6 officers

33.3% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious