Pinal County Sheriff's Office, Arizona
End of Watch: Friday, March 1, 1912
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 29, 1912
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 20 years
Deputy Sheriff William Dobson succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day while arresting a man who was impersonating a constable.
As Deputy Dobson removed the badge the man was wearing the man pulled out a handgun and shot him four times. He was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day.
The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The local justice of the peace was convicted of aiding and abetting the suspect. He was also convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years. In November of 1913 the Arizona Supreme Court reversed his conviction.
Deputy Dobson had served with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office for five years. He was survived by his wife and two children and is buried in Holy Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum, Tuscon, Arizona.