Sergeant William Dickerson

William Dickerson

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.