Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Ralph Dean was shot and killed after being ambushed while sitting in his patrol car at in the parking lot of the gas station at the intersection of Highway 28 and Oak Street at 2:30 a.m. Another vehicle pulled up to the patrol car, the driver got out and opened fire with a .223 caliber rifle. The suspect fired 23 rounds, striking Officer Dean several times. Officer Dean was able to return fire before succumbing to his wounds. Officer Dean was located several hours later after officers from another agency were sent to locate him when he couldn't be reached by dispatchers. The suspect was apprehended but released after serving only two years. Officer Dean, a U.S. Army veteran, had been with the Mize Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, parents, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-67131E47- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 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.
Officer Dean gave the Mize Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mize community, and 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
Ralph Dean served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Officer Ralph Dean is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 15.4 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ralph Dean's cause is highlighted.
How Ralph Dean Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph Dean is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ralph Dean was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Military Service
Ralph Dean served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Ralph Dean’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.