Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Dickerson was shot and killed when he interrupted an escape attempt at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office jail on Clinton Street in Detroit. A prisoner was in the process of taking another deputy hostage when Sergeant Dickerson surprised him. The suspect shot and killed him and then attempted to escape with the hostage. The keys that the deputy had did not open all of the doors, and the suspect could not escape and gave up without further incident. The man was convicted of murdering a peace officer and sentenced to life. It is believed that the suspect's gun was smuggled to him by his brother. Sergeant Dickerson had served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for 23 years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, a grandson, a brother, and a sister. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office's newest jail was named the Dickerson Detention Facility in his honor.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, a grandson, a brother, and a sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-F1EB9A3C- 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
23 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Dickerson gave the Wayne County Sheriff's Office 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Dickerson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant William 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Wayne County Sheriff's Dept., 7 of 14 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 Dickerson's cause is highlighted.
How William Dickerson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Dickerson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Dickerson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Wayne County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
