Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

William Jackson Orr

Dawson County Sheriff's Office — Dawsonville, GA

Felonious

End of Watch July 7, 1924

Age 58

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

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: 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.
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

Department Dawson County Sheriff's Office

Location Dawsonville, GA

Platform Identity dcso.dawson.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 7, 1924

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Paroled in 1932

Sheriff William Jackson Orr 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 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.

Dawson County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Jackson Orr's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William Jackson Orr Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1932

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Jackson Orr is highlighted in Jul.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Jackson Orr was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Dawson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.