Veteran Sheriff’s Captain Passes

Lawrenceville, Ga. – Hearts are heavy and flags are flying at half-staff at the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office in honor of Captain Laura Lynne Hicks, age 48, who passed away on November 28^th after a battle with cancer. Captain Hicks began her professional calling to serve the community on May 28, 1987 when she was hired as a Gwinnett County Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Bobby Plunkett. In her 25 year career with the Sheriff’s Office, Captain Hicks served in virtually every division and took on the challenges of supervision as she climbed the ranks.

Captain Hicks’s first assignment was in the Detention Division. Following her graduation from the Northeast Georgia Regional Police Academy, where she graduated with honors by finishing first in her class, she was assigned to Field Operations. Her dedication and performance resulted in her promotion to Sergeant in 1991. While in Field Operations, she was assigned to the Fugitive Unit, the GBI Metro Fugitive Squad and Investigations.

In 1993, then Sergeant Hicks was assigned supervisory responsibilities in the Court Services Division where she remained until a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in 1999, assuming command responsibilities in the Detention Division and later in Field Operations. In 2005, Sheriff Conway appointed Laura to the rank of Captain where she served in various command roles, most recently in the Court Services Division.

Captain Hicks obtained a Bachelors Degree from the University of Georgia and a Masters Degree from Columbus State University. She was also a graduate of the 220^th Session of the FBI National Academy and the 28^th class of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College.

Over Captain Hicks’ career, she received 27 commendations for outstanding job performance and participation in volunteer community service events. Sheriff Butch Conway stated, “Captain Laura Hicks was a true professional law enforcement officer who made a difference to her department, community and friends.  If nothing else, the overwhelming number of people who volunteered to help Laura or called to express their concerns during her illness says volumes about the positive influence Laura had on people “.