Roll of Honor
Stephen S. Dawson
Incident
Inspector Stephen Dawson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest several liquor smugglers. Inspector Stephen S. Dawson was one of the most widely regarded officers on the Mexican border. He had been in numerous gun battles and had killed a number of smugglers. There was a standing reward of $500 among smugglers to anyone who killed Inspector Dawson. At around 7:30 p.m. on February 27th, 1928, Inspectors Dawson and another inspector received information that liquor smugglers would be bringing a load across the Rio Grande River in the Smelter District of El Paso County. The two inspectors saw two men cross the river and ordered them to halt. They started to approach the suspects when the men dropped behind an embankment. Six to eight smugglers were believed to have been hiding behind the embankment and opened fire on the officers. Inspector Dawson was hit in the chest and thigh. The other inspector wounded one smuggler, but his friends dragged his body back across the river. Although Inspector Dawson was weak from the bullet wound to his left lung, he did not fall and emptied his pistol as he walked to the roadside and sat down. His partner stopped an automobile and asked the driver to transport him to the hospital. Inspector Dawson died at 4:10 a.m. on February 28th, 1928. Inspector Dawson had served with the United States Customs Service for more than 20 years. He was survived by his wife and two sons. He was buried in the Masonic Section of Concordia Cemetery, El Paso, Texas.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-FED-A388ACD5- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Inspector Dawson gave the United States Department of the Treasury 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Dawson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector Stephen S. Dawson 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 47 of 94 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. Stephen S. Dawson's cause is highlighted.
How Stephen S. Dawson Compares
Offender Outcome
Escaped into Mexico
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stephen S. Dawson is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stephen S. Dawson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
