Laurens County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
End of Watch Monday, January 12, 1998
Add to My HeroesKyle Wayne Dinkheller
Deputy Kyle Dinkheller was shot and killed after pulling over a man on Whipple Cross Road near Dudley, Georgia.
He had initiated the traffic stop on I-16 after clocking a vehicle driving 98 mph. During the traffic stop, he called in for backup. Before the backup arrived he was shot by the man with a rifle. He was able to return fire, striking the subject in the stomach. The subject was found during a search the next morning and taken into custody.
The entire incident was videotaped by a camera in Deputy Dinkheller's patrol car. On January 28, 2000, the subject was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to death two days later. He was put to death on January 13th, 2015.
Deputy Dinkheller had served with the Laurens County Sheriff's Office for four years. He is survived by his expectant wife and 22-month-old daughter. Deputy Dinkheller's son was born in early September 1998.
Bio
- Age 22
- Tour 4 years
- Badge 37
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Rifle; .30 caliber
- Offender Executed in 2015
Most Recent Reflection
View all 648 ReflectionsDear Kyle, what that absolute coward did to you on that narrow little road is unimaginable, To be honest I don't think he did that because of PTSD, I think he did it out of stupidity...I have no words to describe how much I appreciate you laying down your life for us. Thank you
Detention Officer Nathaniel Garren
Crawford County Sheriffs Department
December 17, 2025
Recent LODD Deaths
Deputy Sheriff Tim Jordan
Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, LA
EOW: January 21, 2026
Agent Aníbal Morales Aponte
Puerto Rico Police Department, PR
EOW: January 13, 2026
Zone Sergeant Steven W. Greene
New York State Police, NY
EOW: October 24, 2025
Sergeant Frederick W. Scheidt, Jr.
New York State Police, NY
EOW: August 13, 2025
Trooper Mark A. Ondus
New York State Police, NY
EOW: October 19, 2025
Police Officer Elijah Garretson
Copperas Cove Police Department, TX
EOW: January 11, 2026
Master Police Officer Donald Richard Gotthardt, Jr.
Fairfax County Police Department, VA
EOW: October 16, 2025
Police Officer Terry L. Bennett
Metropolitan Police Department, DC
EOW: January 7, 2026
Police Officer Stephen LaPorta
Uxbridge Police Department, MA
EOW: January 7, 2026

