Ralph Dean, a 46-year-old Mize police officer and U.S. Army veteran, was ambushed and killed while seated in his patrol car in the predawn hours of November 1, 1988. The attack took place about 2:30 a.m. in the parking lot of a gas station at Highway 28 and Oak Street. Another vehicle pulled alongside his cruiser and the driver opened fire with a .223 caliber rifle; 23 rounds struck the patrol car and Officer Dean was hit multiple times. He managed to return fire before succumbing to his wounds and was discovered several hours later by officers from another agency after he became unreachable.

The shooter was identified as 55-year-old Cecil Green of Smith County. Green later turned himself in, told authorities he was responsible for the killing and claimed self-defense, and was charged with capital murder. His April 1989 trial ended in a mistrial; a second trial in July 1990 produced a conviction for murder less than capital. Officer Dean had served with the Mize Police Department for 10 years and was survived by his wife, two children, parents, a brother, and a sister.

Does anyone have information about Officer Dean’s last shift or the events at that gas station that night?