Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy David Dobbins succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when the posse he was riding in was ambushed as they were en route to the home of four brothers to arrest them for robbing the local depot and a gun store in Latonia. Deputy Dobbins sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the throat. The county sheriff was also wounded two times but recovered.
The 20-year-old killer was apprehended a few days later in Maridian, Mississippi. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On January 9, 1916, his sentence was commuted to life. On June 11, 1918, he escaped from the Tennessee Penitentiary. On April 17, 1919, he sneaked back to his mothers home in Fayette County and soon found himself surrounded by the sheriff and his posse. He was shot and killed as he attempted to escape.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-8DE78108- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew David. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Dobbins served with the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Somerville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dobbins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff David Dobbins 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Fayette County Sheriff's Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Dobbins's cause is highlighted.
How David Dobbins Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Dobbins is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Fayette County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
