Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff William Orr was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant in Dawsonville.
He entered a service-station garage in search of the wanted man but was shot and killed by an occupant in the garage. The man who shot him turned himself in several days later. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 12 to 14 years. He was paroled on December 30, 1932.
Sheriff Orr had served as the elected sheriff for a total of nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 10 children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-7B4302F8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Orr gave the Dawson County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dawsonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Orr.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff William Jackson Orr is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Dawson County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Jackson Orr's cause is highlighted.
How William Jackson Orr Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Jackson Orr is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Jackson Orr was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Dawson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
