DEPUTY VINCE DIEBOLD WINS TIMOTHY RUOPP AWARD

JACKSON -- A veteran deputy with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department was presented the Timothy J. Ruopp Award Friday by Sheriff Norman Copeland.

Sgt. Vince Diebold, who has served with the department for 13 years, was given the award.

"I guess it's not so much of a surprise anymore," Copeland said as gave the audience a brief biography of Diebold. "He's already turned around and seen his whole family sitting in the back of the room."

Diebold started with the department in the jail division, working his way up through the ranks. He now serves in the patrol division and is the department's firearm instructor.

"I don't think there's a school in existence that (Diebold) hasn't been to," Copeland joked.

"His extensive training and experience makes him an asset to the department, fellow officers and the citizens of Cape Girardeau County," Copeland said. "I'm extremely proud to have (Diebold) serving the department and public."

The award was established in 1984 to recognize outstanding and distinguished service of a member of the department and residents of Cape Girardeau County.

It is named after a former Cape County deputy, who later became a police officer in San Diego, Calif. Ruopp was shot and killed in the line of duty in September 1984. That same year the award was established by Ruopp's family, who moved back to Cape Girardeau, in his memory.

Several member's of Ruopp's family were present Friday during the presentation.

"I knew (Ruopp) when he worked here," Diebold told the audience. "He was a good man; it's a shame that kind of thing happens."

This year, at the request of family members, the Ruopp Award was given in May rather than December as it has been in years past. Ruopp's family wanted the award to be given synonymously with National Police Week, which ended Saturday.

"Law enforcement officers are guardians of life and property, defenders of the individual right to be free men, warriors in the war against crime, and dedicated to the preservation of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," Copeland said.

Statistics show that roughly every 46 hours a police officer will be killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States. In addition, 136 officers will be seriously assaulted in the performance of their duties.

Last week law enforcement officers throughout the country remembered comrades who had died in the line of duty, by tying blue ribbons to the antennas of their vehicles.

"I call upon all our citizens to make every effort to express their thanks to our men and women ... willing to sacrifice their lives, if necessary, to guard our loved ones, property and government against all who would violate the law," he said.

Ruopp's family gave the department a memorial flag, presented to them at the time of Timothy's death. Everyone who attended the award ceremony was led outside, standing quietly as the flag was raised to half-mast.

After the flag was raised, Diebold approached Ruopp's family members in attendance and thanked them.