Highest-ranking civilian at Polk Sheriff's Office beat to death by husband

Highest-ranking civilian at Polk Sheriff's Office beat to death by husband, deputies say

By Amy Pavuk, Orlando Sentinel
9:51 a.m. EDT, September 19, 2011

The highest-ranking civilian at the Polk County Sheriff's Office — a woman who managed all administrative aspects of the agency — was beaten to death by her husband over the weekend, authorities said.

Beatrice "Bea" Dickey, 44, was found early Sunday in Plant City with blunt-force trauma to her head.

Authorities said Dickey's husband, Lawrence Douglas Dickey, admitted to beating her with a baseball bat. He was arrested on a first-degree murder charge.

As executive director of the Office of Business Affairs at the Sheriff's Office, Bea Dickey was the third-highest ranking executive staff member after Sheriff Grady Judd and Chief of Staff Steve Lester.
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