William Christopher Dickerson
Deputy Sheriff

William Christopher Dickerson

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch December 31, 2019
Age 28
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 170 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on FM 10 near FM 2260 in Gary City at 2:00 am.

During the stop, the driver suddenly exited the vehicle and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, shooting Deputy Dickerson six times. Nearby residents who heard the gunshots found Deputy Dickerson in the roadway. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died a short time later.

The subject who shot him fled to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was apprehended by a police canine after being involved in a vehicle crash. He was extradited, and in 2024, he was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death.

Deputy Dickerson was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Panola County Sheriff's Office for eight years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-8AA40E9B
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Dickerson gave the Panola County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Carthage community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Carthage, Panola County, TX
Platform Identity pcso.panola.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 31, 2019
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Military Service

William Christopher Dickerson served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff William Christopher Dickerson is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Panola County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Panola County Sheriff's Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,460
of 2,421 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Christopher Dickerson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How William Christopher Dickerson Compares

Age at Death
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Christopher Dickerson is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Christopher Dickerson was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

William Christopher Dickerson served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit William Christopher Dickerson’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Panola County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.