J. Coleman Dawson

Owensboro Police Department — Owensboro, KY

Felonious

End of Watch June 1, 1912

Age 45

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

The Vigil Panel 26 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman Coleman Dawson was shot and killed and another officer was shot and wounded while attempting to arrest a suspected horse thief just across the state line near Rockport in Spencer County, Indiana. The suspect had brought a horse, stolen in Indiana, to Owensboro and sold it, investing part of the proceeds in two revolvers. Upon his return to Indiana, the Spencer County sheriff called for assistance from officers in Owensboro. Shortly before 9 p.m, the sheriff heard several shots and soon thereafter found the body of Patrolman Dawson and his wounded partner on a country road nearby. Despite initially eluding a posse organized by the sheriff, the suspect was captured two weeks later at a rooming house in St. Louis, Missouri, and returned to Indiana. Authorities had learned of the suspect's location from a letter he sent which was intended for his girlfriend. The letter also revealed his real identity, an Indiana parolee with a lengthy criminal record. On Nov. 5, 1912, he escaped along with three other male prisoners from the Vanderburgh County Jail in Evansville, Indiana. He was recaptured four years later, charged with second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, where he ultimately died in 1931. Patrolman Dawson had served with the Owensboro Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-CF5DB7B4
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.
Patrolman Dawson gave the Owensboro Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Owensboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dawson.

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

Agency

Department Owensboro Police Department

Location Owensboro, KY

Platform Identity opd.daviess.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 1, 1912

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Died in prison

Patrolman J. Coleman 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Owensboro Police Department, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Owensboro Police Department

of 6 officers

50% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious