Senior Patrol Officer Dick Vernon Hobson, Jr. was killed in the line of duty after responding to a robbery call in Tulsa on the evening of Monday, June 10, 1996. The 45-year-old, an 18-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department and a United States Army veteran, and his partner pursued a suspect into an alley near Second Street and Greenwood Avenue. After losing sight of the suspect, both officers left their patrol car on foot; the suspect emerged from behind a bush and opened fire with a 20-gauge shotgun.

Officer Hobson, who was not wearing a protective vest, was struck in the chest and his partner sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. Other officers returned fire and fatally wounded the lone suspect at the scene; no arrests followed. Officer Hobson was taken to Columbia Tulsa Regional Medical Center and died the next morning, Tuesday, June 11, 1996. He left behind two young children, his parents, four brothers, a sister, and his K-9 partner Dino, who was retired to the family.

If anyone has memories of Officer Hobson, his service, or the incident near Second Street and Greenwood Avenue, please share what is known.