Lake Charles Former Police Chief Don Dixon Dies at 70

Published December 25, 2021

On December 25, 2021, the Lake Charles Police Department and the City of Lake Charles announced the passing of retired Police Chief Don Dixon at age 70.

Dixon was found deceased on the morning of December 25. Former Chief Dixon spent 30 years in the FBI before serving the City of Lake Charles as police chief for 17 years from 2002 until 2019 when he retired.

In a press release, current Lake Charles City Police Chief Shawn Caldwell said:

“It is a heartbreaking day for all of us who knew and served with Chief Dixon… It was an incredible honor to serve alongside him in a variety of roles over the years, but most recently, prior to his retirement, as one of his Deputy Chiefs. For me personally, he was a mentor, someone I looked up to, and for the men and women of LCPD, he was a champion of the work we are called to do. For the community, he was a true friend and advocate of keeping our neighborhoods safe, while providing closure to families during the most tragic of times. Even in his retirement, he was still a familiar face in the community and always only a call away to any of us who needed him. We offer our sincere condolences to his children, grandchildren, and his large network of friends who called him family.”

Current Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter added:

“Chief Dixon honorably answered the call to serve others. He dedicated his career and life to it. It was an honor to have the opportunity to work with him prior to his retirement in 2019…During his 17-year tenure as Chief of Police at LCPD, Chief Dixon never wavered from his commitment to ensuring that our community remain a safe place to live. He was passionate about the work of his officers. He was a tremendous person and his passing is an incredible loss for not only LCPD and the City of Lake Charles, but also the greater law enforcement community.”

Appearing in the featured image from left to right: Deputy Chief Michael Nicosia, Deputy Chief Franklin Fondel, Mayor Nic Hunter, Chief Shawn Caldwell, Retired Chief Don Dixon, and Retired Deputy Chief Mark Kraus.

Featured image source: Lake Charles City Hall