William Rankin Hickman

Jackson Police Department — Jackson, MS

Felonious

End of Watch April 13, 1981

Age 29

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 124 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 18

Incident

Patrolman William Hickman was shot and killed after responding to a weapon violation call at a bar at 924 Lynch Street. A woman had called 911 to report that a man was chasing her with a shotgun down Lynch Street. Several minutes later another caller stated gunshots had been fired in a nearby alley. When Patrolman Hickman and his partner arrived on the scene they encountered the man sitting in front of the bar with a shotgun on his lap. As the officers exited their patrol car the man opened fire, killing Patrolman Hickman. Patrolman Hickman's partner returned fire, wounding the suspect. The suspect, 58, a drifter and former mental patient, was charged with murder. Patrolman Hickman had served with the Jackson Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-393D2E99
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.
Patrolman Hickman gave the Jackson Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hickman.

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

Agency

Department Jackson Police Department

Location Jackson, MS

Platform Identity jpd.hinds.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 13, 1981

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Shot and wounded

Patrolman William Rankin Hickman 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Jackson Police Department, 14 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.7% of this agency's fallen.

Jackson Police Department

of 19 officers

73.7% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious