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Incident
Sergeant Shelby Owens was killed in a motorcycle accident while en route to escort a funeral procession at 1020 hours. He had just finished an escort and was headed towards the second funeral when a car pulled in front him. The driver of the other car was not charged.
Survivors
Sergeant Owens had been employed with the Dothan Police Department for 20 years, and is survived by his son.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Owens gave the Dothan Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Dothan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Owens.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Dothan Police Department has lost 5 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
Shelby is one of 182 officers lost to accidents in AL, 28.3% of the 643 remembered there.
Shelby is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Shelby is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1970, 6 officers in AL were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1970, 90 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1970, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Shelby was 47. Of the 160 lost to accidents in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47.3; the middle age was 36.5. Shelby had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Shelby was 47. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Shelby had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Shelby was 47. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Shelby had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 8.2% of these deaths in AL; July holds the most, 13.2%. Mondays: 13.7%.
November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 20% of all 5 deaths at Dothan Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.3% of all 643 deaths in AL, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Dothan Police Department has 5 officers remembered here, Shelby among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Dothan Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
