Roll of Honor
Garnett Edward "Dick" Dabney
Incident
Agent Garnett Dabney was shot and killed while making a raid at a grocery store near Lake Wylie, South Carolina. He and three other agents were watching the store for suspected sales of alcohol on Sundays. After observing two alcohol deliveries the agents raided the store. As the unarmed agents took inventory of the seized alcohol the store owner opened fire with a .32 caliber handgun. Agent Dabney was struck twice in the back and once in the arm. A second agent was critically wounded. The suspect fled but was arrested a short time later. On October 5, 1968, the suspect, 50 was convicted of assault with intent to kill the second agent and sentenced to 8 years. On March 5, 1970, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity of Agent Dabney's murder. His appeal of the 8 year sentence was denied and he was returned to prison. No commitment or any other action was considered in Agent Dabney's case. Agent Dabney was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He had served with the South Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control for four years and had previously served with the Rock Hill Police Department for 14 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and four sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-65A38D5D- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Agent Dabney gave the South Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Garnett Edward "Dick" Dabney served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Agent Garnett Edward "Dick" Dabney 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Garnett Edward "Dick" Dabney's cause is highlighted.
How Garnett Edward "Dick" Dabney Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 8 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Garnett Edward "Dick" Dabney is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Garnett Edward "Dick" Dabney was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.