CARTHAGE, Texas — Editor's Note: The above video is from January 2020.
The Carthage community and the surrounding areas continue to remember the loss of Panola County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chris Dickerson who died in the line of duty on New Year's Eve in 2019.
Dickerson, 28, was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on FM 10 near FM 2260 in the Gary area around 2 a.m., according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
On Saturday night, the Carthage Police Department asked people to take time to remember the loss that the Panola County area felt in the early morning hours of Dec. 31, 2019.
As they marked the fourth anniversary of his death, the police department said Dickerson was not only a deputy but he was also a Carthage Police Department dispatcher, a community leader and great man.
"The weight of our loss has not lessened nor has his absence gone unnoticed. His sacrifice was great," Carthage police said on Facebook. "Please remember him today and every day, along with his family, as do we."
The Panola County Sheriff's Office also remembered Dickerson with a Facebook post on Dec. 31 to reflect on bravery, dedication and the legacy. The PCSO said he was more than a sheriffs deputy.
"He was a husband, father, son, brother, and a friend to all who met him. Chris’ passion for serving his community was matched only by his love for his family," PCSO said. "We’ll never forget 319."
Dickerson also served as a firefighter in Carthage, worked with the Panola County Red Cross and coached his daughter's softball team.
He was a U.S. Army veteran and worked at the Panola County Sheriff's Office for eight years. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, according to the Officer Down Memorial.
The man accused of killing Dickerson, Gregory Newson, is charged with capital murder of a peace officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was arrested in Shreveport after he had fled there following the shooting.
Newson's criminal case proceedings are ongoing as his trial is set for October 2024 with jury selection beginning in September. The case was moved to Gregg County after Presiding Judge Christi Kennedy, senior judge for Tyler’s 114th District Court, found that an impartial and fair trial could not be held in Panola County.