Officer Frank Dobler was shot and killed with his own service weapon by a cab driver he had told to move. Officer Dobler was directing traffic at the intersection of Sixth and Lucas Streets when the cab stopped on a crosswalk to pickup passengers. Officer Dobler told the cabbie to move the cab to the curb to pickup passengers and shut the cab's door. The cab driver got out of the cab and assaulted Officer Dobler, pulled Officer Dobler's jacket over his head, and pushed him to the ground. During the assault he gained control of Officer Dobler's service weapon and shot him once in the head.

The suspect fled the scene in his cab. During a long series of shootouts with officers, The suspect was finally arrested when his cab crashed after ramming a patrol car. The suspect later hanged himself in his jail cell.

Officer Dobler had directed holiday shopping traffic at the intersection he was murdered at for 15 years. He had been with the agency for 29 years and was survived by his wife and two children.