Incident
Deputy Clifford Dicker was shot and killed by a juvenile suspect he was serving papers on. As Deputy Dicker entered the residence the 15-year-old suspect shot him in the face with a .22 caliber rifle, wounding him. The suspect then took Deputy Dicker's service weapon and shot him in the head a second time, killing him. The subject was arrested a short time later and tried as an adult. He plead no contest to Deputy Dicker's murder, and was sentenced to 42 years in prison. He was paroled in August of 2021. Deputy Dicker was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Wythe County Sheriff's Office for 14 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, two step-daughters and two grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-435D3249- 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 Dicker gave the Wythe County Sheriff's Office 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wytheville 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
Clifford Ernest Dicker served in the Air Force (1956â1974) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Clifford Ernest Dicker 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 VA, 395 of 654 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clifford Ernest Dicker's cause is highlighted.
How Clifford Ernest Dicker Compares
Offender Outcome
warrant
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clifford Ernest Dicker is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clifford Ernest Dicker was killed by officer's handgun.