In the winter of 1996, the community of Ellijay, Georgia, was shaken by the tragic death of Gilmer County Deputy Sheriff Brett C. Dickey, a 30-year-old male. On the fateful day of February 13, Deputy Dickey was part of a team of officers attempting to serve a warrant on a man considered to be extremely dangerous. The suspect, Tommy Lamar Pickren, had barricaded himself inside a mobile home. When officers deployed tear gas to flush him out, Pickren fled from the residence, leading to a confrontation.
During the attempt to apprehend him, Pickren opened fire on the officers. Deputy Dickey was struck by the gunfire and fatally wounded. The incident drew a significant law enforcement response, and Pickren was ultimately apprehended. At the time of his death, Deputy Dickey had been with the Gilmer County Sheriff's Office for four years and was survived by his wife and their nine-month-old son. The loss was deeply felt by his family, colleagues, and the wider community, where he was remembered as a dedicated public servant.
Following his arrest, Tommy Lamar Pickren faced a series of serious charges, including the malice murder of Deputy Dickey, aggravated battery on another peace officer, and multiple counts of aggravated assault on other officers. His case proceeded to trial, where a jury found him guilty of the charges. For the murder of Deputy Sheriff Brett C. Dickey, Pickren was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
