William Christopher Dickerson
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
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Christopher Dickerson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff William Christopher Dickerson 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 Panola County Sheriff's Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Christopher Dickerson's cause is highlighted.
How William Christopher Dickerson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Christopher Dickerson is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Christopher Dickerson was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Panola County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
