Roll of Honor
Henry Creighton Pointel
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Creighton Pointel was shot and killed while serving a warrant at the home and store of a suspected bootlegger on Central Avenue four miles south of Summerville.
When Deputy Pointel arrived at the store around noon, the suspect asked for time so his wife could get dressed and post bond. The suspect went upstairs and shot Deputy Pointel from the upstairs window. Deputy Pointel had not drawn his weapon.
Deputy Pointel was transported to Summerville Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
After the suspect's initial statement that he shot the deputy in self-defense, he confessed to killing Deputy Pointel. He was convicted of murder, which carried a mandatory life sentence, but his sentence was commuted in 1938, and he was released from prison.
Deputy Pointel was a United States Army WWI veteran and had served with the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office for at least four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his father, sister, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-BDFFCF43- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Pointel gave the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. George community. Thank you 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
Henry Creighton Pointel served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Henry Creighton Pointel 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 Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry Creighton Pointel's cause is highlighted.
How Henry Creighton Pointel Compares
Offender Outcome
Released after nine years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry Creighton Pointel is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry Creighton Pointel was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Dorchester County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
