Officer Robert Dunn

**LAW DOG** · 03-27-07, 03:34 PM

Authorities said a Jacksonville police officer shot himself to death in his patrol car while on duty Tuesday morning.

Officer Robert Dunn, 39, was answering a call about a disturbance at the Fieldcrest Apartments on Southside Boulevard with two other officers shortly before 3 a.m. when it happened, police said.

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Police weren’t investigating the three-year Sheriff’s Office veteran for any wrongdoing before his death by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, police spokesman Ken Jefferson said.

Before coming to Jacksonville, Dunn was a police officer in North Dakota.

"From all we know he was a good officer. It's just a big question mark right now," Jefferson said of the officer, who previously worked in law enforcement in North Dakota.

Police said Dunn drove into the complex in the 7900 block of Southside Boulevard accompanied by another patrol car on Tuesday. A police training officer and police recruit were in the other car.

Dunn's two colleagues walked up to the apartment door to answer the call, but Dunn wasn’t with them so the recruit went back to check on him and found the officer dead, Jefferson said.

The call for help was canceled while they were at the scene, he said. Dunn didn’t leave a note behind, according to police, who said he is survived by his wife and children, ages 2 and 5.

**LAW DOG** · 03-27-07, 03:35 PM

I'm not sure if this should be post here or in the news.

**countybear** · 03-27-07, 06:33 PM

My vote is for posting it here. I hope this department looks long and hard, and makes absolutely certain that this was indeed a suicide.

Regardless, my prayers are with his family. Its a terrible fact that with this job, you have to beware of the external, as well as the internal demons.

**BigDawg** · 03-27-07, 07:04 PM

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and Dept.

**osugirlP103** · 03-27-07, 07:06 PM

thoughts and prayers to his family as well

**kjlaw** · 03-27-07, 07:26 PM

My thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of this officer.

**kjlaw** · 03-27-07, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by countybear

Its a terrible fact that with this job, you have to beware of the external, as well as the internal demons.

+1

**Ducky** · 03-27-07, 08:50 PM

May he find the peace in his rest that eluded him in life.

And if it wasn't self inflicted, I hope the SOB that did it roasts in the most horrible pits of hell.

**gozling** · 03-27-07, 09:31 PM

I am sad to hear this.

**Just KC** · 03-27-07, 09:51 PM

Oh man.....such an odd place and time to do that....i hope it is thoroughly investigated.

My heart goes out to his family.....what a sad loss......

**Willowdared** · 03-27-07, 11:09 PM

My thoughts and prayers to his family and his department.

This has happened more then once in my department, and I know the impact is terrible.

**cwtlady** · 03-28-07, 10:07 AM

Very sad. My condolences to the family and to the department.

**besafe2** · 04-09-07, 12:04 AM

My thoughts & prayers to his family & dept.
www.tearsofacop.com

**TXCharlie** · 04-09-07, 12:58 AM

I'm like Countybear, It just doesn't sound right for a suicide... His collegues were depending on him. Seems to me that would be a motivation to live, at least for a few minutes longer.

Has the Job ever gotten you to the point that you've said, "I just can't take another call, I just can't do it?".

My job is boring and stressful at times with no recognition, nothing accomplished except I got a program or server or someone's PC working (whoopie), so I'm always wanting to quit - I've been that way the whole 15 years since I got laid off the Defense industry. There's some days I don't want to even get out of bed... and that's why I HAD to finally start Police Academy, to get to make a difference again. I tried to take the easy route through some volunteer programs, but that wasn't nearly enough - I finally realized that I had to do it for real, or be miserable for the rest of my life for not doing it.

But I've never thought how sucky my life was while someone was depending on me to fix something - It was that small accomplishment that made it semi-worthwhile.

So it just doesn't make sense to me that he wouldn't have waited until after the call, when he was alone and away from the job if he really was going to eat his gun (unless it was over something or someone on the job itself). I realize I'm speaking from a million miles away in a totally different job and mindset, but humans are humans.

**10-42Adam** · 04-09-07, 10:07 AM

Sad story. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

**Crimebytes2** · 04-09-07, 10:11 AM

How terribly sad. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and department.

**k-9max** · 04-11-07, 12:08 AM

Countybear i agree with you 100%

TXcharlie i agree with you as well,

i really hope they dont blow this under the rug.
this doesnt even sound right. there are to many unaswered questions about this, unless this is all they are saying, and holding back.

thoughts, and Prayers to family and friends.