Roll of Honor
Incident
Ranger Bill Hobbs succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on his farm six miles south of Blakely 12 days earlier as he and an Early County deputy investigated a disturbance involving a mentally unstable man who was living with family members on the property.
The man had been released from Central State Hospital a few weeks earlier and was causing a disturbance. He shot at Ranger Hobbs and the deputy when they arrived at the scene. Ranger Hobbs suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He then took a gun and ammunition from the deputy's patrol car and barricaded himself in the farmhouse.
Responding officers shot and killed the man when he opened fire on them.
Ranger Hobbs was survived by his wife and son.
Survivors
Ranger Hobbs was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-C4D226F1- 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.
Ranger Hobbs served with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Thank you for your service to the Social Circle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Ranger Hobbs.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Ranger William Earl Hobbs 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 Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 7 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Earl Hobbs's cause is highlighted.
How William Earl Hobbs Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Earl Hobbs is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Earl Hobbs was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Georgia Department of Natural Resources are honored on badge.nw.
