Over one hundred people packed the Rafter 3C Arena in Fallon to pay respects to their fallen Sheriff.
Sheriff Richard C. Hickox Jr. passed away April 11 from complications due to cancer.
"To lose him is really a big deal for a community of our size, and it showed by the number of people who came out and the speakers who attended today,"Â said City of Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford.
On the podium, one deputy said, "if [Hickox] was here today, he wouldn't ask for long speeches or ceremony. He'd keep it simple: do the job right, take care of each other, remember why you chose to serve."
Monte C. Morrison was a good friend of the late sheriff. The two even served as deacons together at two local churches.
"I was a volunteer EMT as a hobby," Morrison said, "and so we related and I felt I could listen and be supportive. And he certainly was that to me as well."
Morrison says his favorite memory of Hickox came when the former was announcing at church, and Hickox saw a man approach Morrison.
"This person was coming up the aisle. And Richard is a very large man, much bigger than me," Morrison said.
Morrison said Hickox stood between him and the man.
"He kind of skipped ahead of this man, stood in front of him, and asked, 'can I help you?'" he said. "And the gentleman said, 'I want to talk to that guy.' And Richard said, 'how about you talk to me?'"
Thankfully, the man wasn't any trouble.
"He didn't mean any harm. Richard wasn't sure. He was being very protective of me, being naive as I was," Morrison said.
Other local law enforcement agencies stepped up so local deputies from the Churchill County Sheriff's Office could pay their respects.
Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam and Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong were among those in attendance, as well as former Clark County Sheriff and Governor Joe Lombardo.
"I've had the privilege of working with sheriffs all across Nevada," Lombardo said, "and I can tell you this, Richard represented the very best of Nevada law enforcement."
State senator Robin Titus also attended.
Churchill County said in lieu of flowers, it asks people who want to pay their respects to consider donating to the Richard Hickox Memorial Scholarship.
You can do so at the Churchill County Federal Credit Union at 667 South Maine Street in Fallon.
Hickox passed away earlier this month from complications due to cancer.
He served 28 years in law enforcement, before he passed away last month due to cancer.
