Longtime Murfreesboro Police detective and Public Defender's Office Chief Investigator David Dinkins has passed away. He was 71-years old. David was the older brother of WGNS' Jon Dinkins.

He had a long 17-year tenure with the Murfreesboro Police Department, rising to a lieutenant in the detective division before being lured away by Public Defender Gerald Melton to work within his office. David spent 29-years there before retiring in 2019. 

16th Judicial District Public Defender Melton said, "I had the privilege of knowing David for 40 years. We met when I first began practicing law and David was an officer with the Murfreesboro City Police Department. I later became an Assistant District Attorney and David was a Detective with the Police Department."

The public defender felt David was a man of honesty and integrity

Melton explained, "When I had the opportunity to add an investigator to our staff. David was my choice. I visited him at his home to offer him the job, he was nursing a broken leg. So, I hired him and then gave him two weeks off before he began work, so he could finish his recovery."

Gerald concluded, "I am a better person, having known David Dinkins. More than just colleagues at work, we became close friends. Through the years we went from having young children to becoming grandparents. We shared the grief of losing parents and the joy of each other's company. Together we solved the world's problems, played softball and David permitted me to ruin his otherwise excellent golf rounds, by my own inept play. People were drawn to David. Visitors came to see him daily in our office. Police officers, community members and other friends were always dropping by just to hang out with him. We had to put extra chairs in the room just to meet the demand. He was everyone's pal. Thus, we coined the term Pal-dome. David's office was the place where Pal-dome reigned and he was the king. There is only one David Dinkins and I will be forever grateful that he came into my life."

Senior Judge Don Ash remembers David Dinkins: "David was a fantastic police officer and investigator. He was relentless in finding information plus was such a man of integrity. So many young police officers were mentored by him. I will always cherish the memories of our friendship."

David Dinkins is survived by his wife, Elaine Baines Dinkins; daughter, Jessica Pinson; siblings, Jon Dinkins, Angela Tipps, Eva McPherson, Nancy Stewart; and four grandchildren.

Arrangements

Visitation with the family will be at 12:00 noon this Sunday (11/1/2020) until time of funeral service at 2:00 o'clock in Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home. CLICK HERE for the complete obituary. 

Please continue to keep the Dinkins family in your thoughts and prayers.