Mark Layne Dabling
Patrolman

Mark Layne Dabling

Colorado Springs Police Department — Colorado Springs, CO
Felonious
End of Watch December 6, 1982
Age 30
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 126 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Mark Dabling was shot and killed while making a traffic stop. Unbeknownst to him, the violator was an escaped prisoner from Florida. The man exited the vehicle through the passenger side door and opened fire on Patrolman Dabling with a .44 caliber sawed-off rifle. The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested on I-25 south of the city. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2044. However, he was convicted of murder and first-degree robbery in Kentucky and will also have to serve that sentence. Patrolman Dabling had served with the Colorado Springs Police Department for 5 1/2 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, father, brother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Dabling gave the Colorado Springs Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Colorado Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dabling.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO
Platform Identity cspd.elpaso.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 6, 1982
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Mark is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1982, 122 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 42nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Mark was 30. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Mark had served 5.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Colorado Springs Police Department has 13 officers remembered here, Mark among them.

Patrolman Mark Layne Dabling

Colorado Springs Police Department · End of Watch December 6, 1982

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W

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