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In the early hours of the morning during the 2020 riots, Ann Dorn’s world shifted forever. A knock on the door brought devastating news: her husband, retired police Captain David Dorn, had been shot and killed while protecting a friend’s pawn shop in St. Louis.
His tragic death was caught on a livestream, a haunting echo of the chaos and violence that enveloped the nation that summer.
Captain Dorn was more than a retired police officer—he was a community cornerstone. Respected, loved, and described as “larger than life,” Dorn had a deep commitment to his city and its people. Even after retirement, he responded to alarms at his friend’s business, embodying the vigilance and service that defined his life.
The night of the tragedy, Dorn believed he would be met by fellow officers when he went to investigate a break-in. He confronted individuals peacefully before being ambushed and fatally shot by one of the people that had broken into a friend’s shop. As he took his last breaths, Dorn was not alone. A protester stayed by his side in his final moments, a bittersweet comfort to Ann.
The horror was amplified by the fact that the murder was broadcast live. Dorn’s grandson unknowingly watched it unfold online—a trauma that continues to haunt the family.
Ann Dorn, also a former police officer, leaned heavily on her Christian faith as her cornerstone through unimaginable grief. Both Ann as well as her family found strength through her church community. Even to this day, she feels that is being spared from bitterness and hate—a profound spiritual gift. But not all days are good. Ann continues to struggle with forgiveness but acknowledges it as part of her healing journey.
In this episode of Sheepdog and Shepherd, She recounts how her husband brought her back to faith, showing her the power of grace in both private life and public service.
In the wake of loss, Ann channeled her pain into purpose. The Dorn Foundation was launched to carry on David’s legacy by equipping first responders in need. The foundation works to supply gear to individual officers lacking basic tools like boots, vests, and flashlights. It prioritizes rural and underfunded departments across Missouri and beyond, and recently received a $1 million grant to expand free training programs nationwide.
“Dave always made sure others had what they needed to succeed,” Ann says. “This is just an extension of who he was.”
Ann now travels, speaks, and shares her story to raise awareness and support for the foundation. She’s candid about the challenges of running a nonprofit, especially while navigating her own grief. Yet her faith and community keep her grounded.
“You have to get the heart before you ask for the hand,” she was once told—and that philosophy guides every conversation, every campaign.
David Dorn lived the scripture: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” His legacy lives not only through a foundation but in every officer who wears the badge he once honored.
As Ann puts it, “He was the MacGyver of life—you gave him a loaf of bread, and he could feed a million.” That ingenuity, that heart, that faith, is what she hopes will live on.
