Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To the family and loved ones of Special Agent Jessie Bruce Dobson and his fellow officers with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement:

On this the fifteeth anniversary of J.B.'s tragic death, I wanted to honor and remember him today. J.B.'s professionalism and dedication will never be forgotten, nor will his valor and courage.

In reading the loving reflections left by his friends and co-workers I can see that he was very loved, well respected and is sorely missed. I hope that God is holding him in the sweetest part of his heart and the most gentle part of his soul.

No doubt that Heaven has another hero in J.B., but I am so sorry you had to lose your beloved Jessie. May you all continue to be comforted by your faith and your law enforcement family and other police survivors.

I am so sorry that J.B. was robbed of his life so tragically, but through his heroism and the profound sense of duty with which he lived his life, he made an immeasurable difference. May his spirit continue to soar and may his memory continue to inspire.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the many years of dedicated service J.B. gave to his community and the citizens of Florida, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on August 30, 1991.

Phyllis L. Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, PPD
eow 4/24/05

August 30, 2006

rest well my friend,you are not for gotten! may your family be well.--- thom

thom
friend of a fallen officer

May 25, 2006

Rest in Peace J.B. I think of you often and appreciate everything you did when we were both in the academy. It was an honor to work with you through the years and you were a great pilot and friend. Rest in peace and know those who worked with you will never forget you.

Dennis W. Haley
Florida Department of Law Enforcement

February 6, 2006

JB, My Friend You Will Never Be Forgotten. There is not a day that goes by I don't think about you or the sacrifice you made. We all know you're still watching over us from above.

Your Friend

Deputy Billy Long
Alachua County Sheriff's Office

May 15, 2005

My old Santa Rosa County friend...I see your photo each day I walk into TROC and no matter what the day has brought… I smile…you were so many things to allot of people... mentor, partner, back-up, eye in the sky, comedian…. but most important, you were always a good friend and loving father...I wish you could see your children today, you would be so proud of them as they keep you alive in spirit each day...your loss was mourned by many...may you rest in peace "Oh Mayor of Jay"

Special Agent Betty T. Rominger
Florida Department of Law Enforcement

May 12, 2005

Because we mostly worked in different regions, I didn't get to work with J.B. for years and years, but we were a smaller agency then and everyone knew everyone just the same. J.B. made an impression on everyone who ever knew him: he was a big bear of a man, smart, unmistakeably kind and with a great sense of humor! He was the kind of law enforcement officer that other officers looked up to and wanted to emulate. A cop's cop. I know several who said that knowing J.B. was the reason they wanted to be in law enforcement. He loved his job, his family, and he loved to fly. He's still here at FDLE, even after all these years, he is not forgotten, and those who knew him will always miss him.

Special Agent Nita Ashley
Florida Department of Law Enforcement

April 27, 2005

"JB" My old friend, it's hard to believe it's been 14 years since you made your final flight. You're in my thoughts a lot. I have so many fond memories of you and of our mutual fascination with aviation and the marvel of flight.

Our days together in law enforcement were cut short jessie, but you will never be forgotten. You're the one who showed me the "fun" side of police work, and how to laugh when the times were tough. You were truely "a man's man," and "a cop's cop!" How could i ever forget a guy like that?

When i first met you in 1979, you were a Florida State Trooper, and flying for the Highway Patrol's air unit.
You were one sharp and proud trooper in that tan FHP uniform,..and even more proud to be one of FHP's pilots.

A few years later you were hired by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as a Special Agent/Pilot, and you became one of our best.

You, like me, couldn't stand to be strapped down to a Law Enforcement desk job,..we were pilots,..we had to fly! And FLY we did!

You and i shared experiences in the sky that the "ground pounders" of law enforcement could never imagine or understand. Some thought you and i were crazy to spend our working days up in the sky. Ha! If only they knew what you and i knew. We had the best job in the world, you and i.

I vividly remember that sad day of August 30th, 1991, when the phone rang.
It was FDLE's Inspector Dallas Johnson telling me that our friend and fellow pilot, J.B.Dobson had just been killed in an on-duty air crash. Jessie my friend, your death brought me to my knees,..and i cried for the first time in i can't remember when.

I'll always remember your tall, lanky stature, your slow, quiet country drawl, your slow,non-assuming walk, your sheepish grin, your humor and quick wit, your love for baseball, (you almost made the pro's,) the way you loved to play tricks and tease us, your dedication to duty, and above all, your love for your family.

To this day, a picture of you standing beside your FDLE helicopter hangs on the wall of my office as a reminder of you, our friendship, and how short and fragile life really is.

Rest in peace my friend,..and may you have blue skies and tailwinds forever.

Special Agent William L. "Bill" Fisher
Florida Department of Law Enforcement

April 25, 2005

Just located your website and wanted to let others know that "J.B" is not forgotten by his friends- he still remains in our hearts! (First met "JB" when he was a FHP Trooper in Miami and was delighted when he came on board with FDLE.)

CIAII Bonnie Brown (Ret.)
FDLE

April 25, 2005

JB was a fine man. He was an outstanding pilot who had a sharp eye in spotting marijuana plots across the State of Florida. He was the best and was quite proud of the FDLE marijuana eradication program and the large seizures made year in and out. And oh how he loved to fly. He died on the his way home from a mission in the Jacksonville area when his helicopter hit a guide wire from a newly erected tower. All believed that even though JB had flown all day, he was still looking for marijuana plots on his way home when the crash occurred. Thank you for your service. You will never be forgotten by those who knew you. Rest in peace!

Dennis Williamson, US Marshal
USMS/ formerly with Florida Department of Law Enforcement

April 18, 2005

J.B. was one heck of a pilot and probably the best marijuana spotter in the state, if not nation. JB retired from the Highway Patrol and came to FDLE with a primary mission as a Special Agent/Pilot. JB was always ready and willing to help other agents on the ground. JB's first love was his wife and kids, but running a close second was flying law enforcement missions. And he died doing what he loved- flying his helicopter spotting domestically grown marijuana. love his wife and kids. We haven't forgotten you JB....thanks from all of us here at FDLE and the citizens of FL whom you did so much for....

Kent McGregor, Chief of Investigations
Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement

April 13, 2005

i saw that he did not have a reflection. i had to leave one. i worked with him many times eradictaing marijuana. he was very good at it. rest in peace.

cpl pete spurlock
columbia s.o.

June 11, 2004