Detective Donald T. Dull - Juneau Police Dept. - True Life Hero

Donald T. Dull
- Oct. 19, 1964 -

(361)

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Juneau Police Dept. Patch

Resided:	AK, USA
Born:	Aug. 09, 1936
Fallen:	Oct. 19, 1964
Race/Sex:	Caucasian Male / 28 yrs. of age
	Agency
Dept:	Juneau Police Dept. Juneau, AK USA
Dept. Type:	Municipal/Police
Hero's Rank:	Detective
Sworn Date:	1959
FBI Class:	Accident - Police

Bio: Donald Dull, 28, was born on Aug. 9, 1936, in Juneau to Edward and Sigrid Dull. He was the second of two children (Edward and Donald) and was a lifelong resident of Juneau, graduating from Juneau H.S. in 1954.

Dull joined the Juneau Police Dept. in 1959 at the age of 23 but took leave to attend college. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in criminology from Washington State University in June of 1963 and returned to his job with the Juneau Police Dept. At the time of his death Inspector Dull was chief of detectives and was in charge of the detective, records, and identification divisions of the Dept. He was a "lifelong friend" of Juneau Police Chief Patrick Wellington.

Dull "excelled in all sports" and was a "league champion of the American Bowling Congress in 1959-60 and 1973-64 seasons." During his college years he was U.S. National Intercollegiate Pocket Billiard champion and "his name appears on the record list in the World Almanac."

Survived by:

Ruth Dull - Wife

and step-daughter, Sheri Lynn, 4, of Juneau; his parents Edward and Sigrid Dull of Juneau; his brother, Edward Dull, 30, of Seattle; his grandparents, Lizzie Davis of Juneau and Delia Dull of Sitka; and his uncles Elnard Davis of Juneau and Elliot Freming of Elfin Cove.

Fatal Incident Summary

Offender:	Gene Combs

Location:	AK USA Mon. Oct. 19, 1964
Summary:	Chief of Detectives Donald Dull, 28, was accidently shot in the head by a fellow officer on Oct. 19, 1964. He became the first Juneau officer killed in the line of duty. Around 5:00PM on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1964, Det. Dull and Officer Gene Combs had been "dry firing" their weapons at the Juneau police station. Officer Combs' .38 calibre pistol "went off hitting Dull in the head." Dull was immediately rushed to St. Ann's Hospital where Dr. William Whitehead and Dr. H.I. Akiyama worked to save his life. Several fellow officers gave blood but Dull died four hours after the shooting (at 9:10PM).
Disposition:	Juneau Officer Gene Combs, 32, who had been recently been cited by Mayor Lauris Parker for "exemplary performance" in attempting to save the lives of three youths who drowned at Moose Lake, was not charged in the accidental shooting of Det. Dull. He was so distraught over the accidental shooting that he "went into shock" and "was placed under heavy sedation."
Source:	Book Excerpted in part or in whole from Dr. Wilbanks book- FORGOTTEN HEROES: POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN ALASKA, 1867-1998 By Dr. Wm. Wilbanks FL International University To be published by Turner Publications in early 1999

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Last Updated: May. 29, 2019