Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Dennis Compton was shot and killed while responding to a residential alarm call on Sunflower Drive, in Smoaks, at approximately 3:00 am.
The homeowner's son had also been notified of the alarm by the alarm company. When he arrived at the home he found Deputy Compton wounded and used his radio to alert dispatchers.
In September 2008 two suspects were arrested and charged with Deputy Compton's murder. Both were convicted of murder and subsequently sentenced to life in prison in December 2011.
Deputy Compton had served with the Colleton County Sheriff's Office for sixteen months, starting as a detention center officer.
Deputy Compton had served with the Colleton County Sheriff's Office for sixteen months, starting as a detention center officer.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-99D14AA6- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Compton gave the Colleton County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Walterboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Compton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Dennis Carl Compton 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%.
At Colleton County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 4 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. Dennis Carl Compton's cause is highlighted.
How Dennis Carl Compton Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis Carl Compton is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dennis Carl Compton was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Colleton County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
