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Incident
Chief Charles Dornon succumbed to injuries sustained when he was attacked by two men. About 9:30 pm, the proprietor of the Rendezvous Cafe on Ashfield Street summoned Chief Dornon when the two men became disorderly, refusing to leave. When Chief Dornon escorted the men outside, they dragged him into an alley and attacked him. Chief Dornon drew his revolver but was disarmed by one of the subjects. That subject returned to the cafe, where he pointed the weapon at the owner, threatening him. Meanwhile the remaining subject continued to beat the police chief while trying to gain control of the chief's nightstick. Dornon suffered severe blows to his back and head. The subject was able to throw the much weakened officer against a nearby parked auto, where he lost consciousness and slumped to the ground. The suspects stole his service weapon and night stick before fleeing back to Maryland. The attack caused Chief Dornon to go into cardiac arrest. He died while being taken by ambulance to Potomac Valley Hospital in Keyser, West Virginia. Officers from West Virginia and Maryland immediately began an intensive search for the armed suspects. A man who raised one of the suspects from childhood was able to convince them to surrender and they were arrested at the city hall in Westernport, Maryland, about 1:00 am. Both men were convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to one year in the Mineral County Jail on Febuary 10, 1946.
Survivors
Chief Dornon was survived by his wife.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Dornon served with the Piedmont Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Piedmont community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Dornon.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Charles is the only officer of Piedmont Police Department remembered here.
Charles is one of 169 officers killed feloniously in WV, 72.8% of the 232 remembered there.
Charles is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1946, 4 officers in WV were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 79 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 8.
In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1946, 93 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 67th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Charles was 73. Of the 147 killed feloniously in WV whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 47.5; the middle age was 39.
Charles was 73. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Charles was 73. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
January holds 5.3% of these deaths in WV; August holds the most, 14.2%. Wednesdays: 17.2%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Piedmont Police Department. The weapon recorded was person, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 72.8% of all 232 deaths in WV, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 0.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 3-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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