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Gary Dockery

Case from Walden, TN dated Sep 07, 1988

Victim Details

Gary F. Dockery

Male

White / Caucasian

Walden

TN

1988-09-07

43

Gary

Dockery

06/30/2026

Case Description

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On September 7, 1988, Walden Police Department officer Gary Dockery, a 43-year-old male, responded to what he believed was a routine domestic disturbance call, a summons that would irrevocably alter the course of his life and culminate in his death years later. The call was a fabrication, a deliberate trap set by Samuel Frank Downey, who was intoxicated and harbored resentment towards the police over previous noise complaints. Upon Dockery's arrival, Downey shot the officer in the head at point- ...
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Links to Additional Sources (10)

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  • Patrolman Gary F. Dockery - Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)
  • Gary Dockery - Wikipedia
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    Forum Posts (3)

    I'm really struck by the impact that the years-long ordeal had on Gary Dockery's family. Imagine hol... ...Read More
    09/04/2024
    Has anyone else found it incredibly unsettling that Samuel Frank Downey managed to lure Officer Gary... ...Read More
    07/25/2023
    Hey everyone,
    I've been thinking a lot about the family and friends of Gary Dockery lately. It mu... ...Read More
    01/26/2023
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