Jeremy Dixon wipes his eyes while speaking during the funeral for his brother, Hall County Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon. Standing with him are his brother Zack, left, and father Fred Dixon. (Scott Rogers/The Gainesville Times)
It’s been a day of mourning and remembrance in Hall County as people gathered to pay their final respects to fallen Hall County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon.
The 28-year-old Dixon died Monday after being shot by a suspect during a foot chase.
“Nicolas Blane Dixon will forever be a part of our heart, our souls, and our strength.”
Hundreds of people attended Dixon’s funeral at Free Chapel worship center in Gainesville. Even more lined the streets to pay their respects as law enforcement officers from around the state escorted a caisson bearing Dixon’s flag-draped coffin to his final resting place. Dixon’s widow and 9-year-old son followed behind him in a white limousine. The couple also has a 4-month-old son.
Deputy Dixon was buried with full honors at Memorial Park Cemetery in Gainesville. A large monument was placed at his grave as a lasting memorial to his service and sacrifice.
Sheriff: Dixon had a heart for service
During the funeral, Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch was emotional as he spoke of the young patrol officer with the big heart and smile.
“From the moment you spoke to him you knew that Blane Dixon was all in,” Couch said. “God gives some people a heart for service and guardianship. Blane certainly had that.”
Deputy Dixon worked at the Hall County Sheriff’s Office for three years and served the past nine months as a patrol officer. Before that, he was a jailer. His youngest brother, Jeremy, spoke during the funeral and thanked the community for the tremendous outpouring of support the family has received since his brother’s death.
“Blane always had a smile for anyone who needed one. He was proud to put that badge on every day and serve his community. He was the type of man who would give you the shirt off his back or the last five dollars in his wallet,” Jeremy Dixon said through his tears. “He was a hero, a great man. He will be greatly missed.”
A haunting memory
Dixon’s supervisor and friend, Sgt. Charles Hewell, described Dixon as a young rookie who learned fast and was good at his job. “Blane learned faster than any rookie I ever met,” said Hewell. “He may have only had nine months on patrol but I trusted him as though he’d had years.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save your husband, your dad, and your son, but I truly believe that night Blane saved me.”
Sgt. Hewell was with Dixon the night he was fatally wounded. “I was there in the firefight. I was there when Blane said he was hit. There wasn’t a scream. There wasn’t a cry. He simply said, ‘I am hit’.
Hewell struggled to maintain his composure as he recalled Dixon’s fight to stay alive.
“I grabbed him by the vest and told him to hold on,” he recounted. “My brother held on and fought longer than he should have.” Hewell then turned to Dixon’s family and said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t save your husband, your dad, and your son, but I truly believe that night Blane saved me.”
