Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Gary Dockery succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained eight years earlier when he was shot on September 7th, 1988. Officer Dockery had responded to a false 911 call by a drunken man who intended to shoot the responding officer. The man was upset about previously being reprimanded by officers following a noise complaint made by neighbors. The man shot Patrolman Dockery Dockery in the head, causing him to lapse into a coma. He remained in the coma for eight years until suddenly waking on February 11th, 1996, and speaking freely. Although he was paralyzed, he was able to talk and communicate with his family for 18 hours before gradually falling back into a semi-conscious state. He was awaiting physical therapy when he suffered medical complications and died on April 15th, 1997. The suspect was convicted of shooting Officer Dockery and sent to prison. He was denied parole in September 2001 and died while still incarcerated in May 2006. Officer Dockery had served with the Walden Police Department for 10 years at the time of the shooting.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TN-9A9167D2- Stewardship
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- 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 Dockery gave the Walden Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Signal Mountain community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dockery.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Gary F. Dockery 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gary F. Dockery's cause is highlighted.
How Gary F. Dockery Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gary F. Dockery is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gary F. Dockery was killed by handgun; derringer.