Roll of Honor
Incident
About midnight, Deputy Sheriffs Lee Dicken, Alex Champion, Ernest Garcia and Ray Driuilhat were attempting to stop a light truck, suspected of hauling a load of liquor about four and half miles from Brownsville, near the El Jardin pumping station. The deputies were waiting on the banks of the main canal when the truck appeared on the bridge. The driver was ordered to stop. Two men in the truck started firing on the deputies and Dicken was shot through the right shoulder, left ankle and under the arm. The suspects fled and eluted capture.
Deputy Sheriff Dicken had been engaged in law enforcement the greater part of his life. He had been a Texas Ranger with a long history of service on the border from El Paso to the Brownsville. He was also a member of the Arizona Ranger Force, a government scout and acted in various peace officer capacities. About a year before his death, he returned to Brownsville and was made a Deputy Sheriff.
Lee Dicken was survived by his wife, son, Jim Dicken 15, and daughter, Lillie Dicken, 17, all from San Benito, Texas. He was also survived by a brother, John Dicken. Dicken was buried at the Buena Vista Cemetery in Brownsville.
Survivors
Lee Dicken was survived by his wife, son, Jim Dicken 15, and daughter, Lillie Dicken, 17, all from San Benito, Texas.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-37B30D3A- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Dicken served with the Cameron County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Olmito community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dicken.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Lee Dicken 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 Cameron County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lee Dicken's cause is highlighted.
How Lee Dicken Compares
Offender Outcome
escaped
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lee Dicken is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lee Dicken was killed by unknown weapon.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Cameron County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
