On September 11, 2026, the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation remembers Sergeant William Dickerson of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office on the 35th anniversary of his End of Watch.

Sergeant Dickerson dedicated 23 years of his life to serving the people of Wayne County, Michigan. On September 11, 1991, the 52-year-old veteran officer was working inside the Wayne County Jail on Clinton Street in Detroit when an incarcerated individual produced a firearm and attempted to take another deputy hostage.

Sergeant Dickerson interrupted the escape attempt and courageously confronted the armed individual. During the struggle, he was shot in the chest. Fellow officers immediately came to his aid and rushed him to Detroit Receiving Hospital, but tragically, he could not be saved.

After the shooting, the assailant attempted to escape with the deputy he had taken hostage. However, the deputy’s keys did not open all the necessary doors, preventing him from leaving the secure area. Following a standoff lasting approximately three hours, the assailant surrendered to negotiators without further violence. He was later convicted of Sergeant Dickerson’s murder and sentenced to life in prison.

While the circumstances of Sergeant Dickerson’s death demonstrated extraordinary courage, the stories shared following his passing revealed that his life had always been defined by service.

Just days after his death, The Detroit News remembered him as a man who “always wanted to help people.” The article recalled an incident from 1976 in which Sergeant Dickerson heard an elderly man calling for help near a Detroit retirement home. He discovered the man had been struck during an attempted robbery. Sergeant Dickerson intervened, disarmed the attacker and made the arrest—an act that later earned him a commendation from the department.

His concern for others did not end when his shift was over. Neighbors remembered Sergeant Dickerson as someone who regularly checked on elderly residents, helped care for their homes and spent time fishing with them. He was described as a devoted family man, a trusted neighbor and a man who was willing to help whenever someone was in need.

That same kindness extended into the jail. Years later, one individual who had been incarcerated there recalled asking Sergeant Dickerson for help when he had no support from his family. Sergeant Dickerson returned the following morning with commissary items he had purchased with his own money. It was an act of compassion that the man said he never forgot.

Those who served beside Sergeant Dickerson remembered an honest, caring and respected leader—a “gentleman police officer” who treated others with dignity. His loss deeply affected the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, but his sacrifice also strengthened the resolve of those who continued walking the same jail corridors. Fellow officers have reflected that the lessons learned from his death helped reinforce the importance of vigilance, officer safety and ensuring that correctional professionals return home to their families.

Sergeant Dickerson was survived by his wife, two daughters, a grandson, a brother and a sister. His love for his family was evident to those who knew him, and the reflections shared by his daughters, granddaughter, friends and former colleagues show how deeply his absence continues to be felt.

His legacy also lives on through the Dickerson Detention Facility, which was named in his honor by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. More than a name on a building, it stands as a lasting reminder of a dedicated public servant whose courage, compassion and sacrifice will forever remain part of the department’s history.

Thirty-five years have passed since Sergeant William Dickerson gave his life while protecting another officer and defending the security of the facility entrusted to his care. Time has not diminished the meaning of his sacrifice or the memory of the man behind the badge.

Today, we remember Sergeant Dickerson’s 23 years of honorable service, the family who has carried his memory and the correctional professionals who continue his watch.

Sergeant William Dickerson
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan
End of Watch: September 11, 1991

Thirty-five years later, his courage is remembered, his compassion continues to inspire and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.