Capt. Ruth Ann Dickerson receives outstanding law enforcement award again

Capt. Ruth Ann Dickerson received the Timothy J. Ruopp Award for outstanding law enforcement Wednesday, said Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan.

Dickerson is the first officer to receive the award twice during her tenure at the sheriff's department, Jordan said. She also received it in 1986.

The award is named after a former Cape Girardeau County deputy who was killed in the line of duty as a law enforcement officer in California.

Dickerson has been employed with the sheriff's department for nearly 26 years. She took over her current position, captain of business operations, in January 1995.

Three other officers -- Aaron Harris, LaTasha Tidwell and Jason McDonald -- received the Copeland Excellence Award, Jordan said.

That award is named after former sheriff Norman Copeland, who retired in 1994.