In the predawn hours of November 1, 1988, a male Mize police officer, 46-year-old Ralph Dean, was ambushed and killed while sitting in his patrol car. The attack occurred around 2:30 a.m. in the parking lot of a gas station at the intersection of Highway 28 and Oak Street. Another vehicle pulled up alongside Officer Dean's cruiser, and the driver exited, opening fire with a. 223 caliber rifle. A total of 23 rounds were fired into the patrol car, striking Officer Dean multiple times.
Despite his injuries, he was able to return fire before succumbing to his wounds. Several hours passed before he was discovered by officers from another agency who had been dispatched to find him after he became unreachable.
The man responsible for Officer Dean's death was identified as Cecil Green, a 55-year-old resident of Smith County. Green later turned himself in, telling the authorities, 'I'm the man you're looking for in the Ralph Dean killing,' and claimed he had acted in self-defense. He was charged with capital murder.
Cecil Green's first trial in April 1989 ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a verdict. A second trial was held in July 1990, which resulted in a conviction for murder less than capital. In a turn of events that caused anguish for Officer Dean's family and community, the suspect was released after serving only two years. Officer Dean, a U.S. Army veteran, had served with the Mize Police Department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife, two children, parents, a brother, and a sister.
