|
On Friday, March 23, 2001, Dickson County experienced
the loss of three of its officers and the critical injury of two other
officers.
Upon conclusion of their shift, Officers Mark Deloach,
Kellye Whitmore, Steve Rychlik and Shonia (Sissy) Felts of the Dickson
County Sheriffs Office and Officer Jason Hogan of the Dickson Police
Department had left the Dickson County Jail and were going to Dickson to
eat dinner together.
They were celebrating the 21st birthday of Officer
Deloach.
While traveling south on Highway 48, a tractor trailer
hauling bundles of cardboard, weighing in excess of 4,000 pounds each,
rounded a curve causing its load to shift. These bundles fell into
Highway 48 and in the path of the car driven by Officer Deloach.
Officers Deloach, Hogan and Whitmore were killed
instantly. Officers Felts and Rychlik were flown to Vanderbilt Medical
Center by Life Flight
Officer Whitmore had been with the Dickson County
Sheriffs Office for only four months. Officer Deloach had been with the
Dickson County Sheriffs Office for only three months.
After extensive surgery, recuperation and therapy,
Officer Felts and
Officer Rychlik have both been released from Vanderbilt. and Both have
returned to service at the Dickson County Jail.
The loss and injury of these Officers was immediately
felt in Dickson
Counties law enforcement community. Their dedication and commitment to
professionalism was an inspiration to all. Public response to this
terrible accident was outstanding.
Numerous funds were set up and benefits held to assist
these Officers and their families.
Sheriff Tom Wall and the members of the Dickson County
Sheriffs Office
express their appreciation to the citizens of Dickson County for their
encouragement and support during this very tragic experience.
"It is not how these
officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived." |
