Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Hamilton Dickson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect who had earlier murdered Constable Mose Townsend, of the Colorado County Constable's Office, during a jail break.
Sheriff Dickson and the sheriff from Colorado County had met up to look for the suspect. As the two sheriffs entered a brushy area the suspect opened fire, fatally wounding Sheriff Dickson. Both officers were able to return fire and kill the suspect.
Sheriff Dickson had been sheriff for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-468DD15F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Dickson gave the Wharton County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wharton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Hamilton Bass Dickson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Wharton County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hamilton Bass Dickson's cause is highlighted.
How Hamilton Bass Dickson Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hamilton Bass Dickson is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hamilton Bass Dickson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Wharton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
