Fallon is waking up to a tough loss. Churchill County Sheriff Richard C. Hickcox Jr. died on Saturday from complications related to cancer, the sheriff's office announced, leaving a deep void in a community he served for more than 28 years. He worked his way through the ranks from detention deputy to sheriff, becoming a familiar face across Fallon and Churchill County. Funeral and memorial details have not yet been released, but colleagues are already remembering him as a steady leader and devoted public servant.
Colleagues remember a steady hand
Law enforcement leaders across northern Nevada are lining up to pay their respects, according to KOLO. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam praised Hickcox’s deep commitment to public service, while Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen described him as a trusted friend with roots that ran wide and deep in the region. The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office said he will be missed not only by “his brothers and sisters in blue” but also by the broader Fallon community that saw him as a constant presence.
Nearly three decades in local policing
Hickcox launched his law enforcement career in 1999 and served in detention, patrol and investigations before ultimately earning the top job as sheriff, according to 2 News. His influence stretched beyond Churchill County through his work on the board of the Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association, where he recently wrapped up a term as president. Colleagues noted that his leadership style reached outside traditional law enforcement circles and into local organizations and his church, where he was known as a hands-on neighbor as much as a sheriff.
Homecoming and next steps
According to a post republished by Carson Now, the sheriff’s office said Hickcox’s body would be brought back to Fallon on April 12, with a procession planned along U.S. 50 in the mid-afternoon. Formal service information will be shared when it becomes available. Agencies from across Nevada, including the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, have publicly offered prayers and sympathy to Hickcox’s family and his department. The FBI’s Las Vegas office also posted condolences on X, noting its appreciation for his dedication to justice and community safety; that message can be seen on X.
