SHERIFF GIVES AWARDS

JACKSON -- Several officers at the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department were presented with awards Wednesday.

In coordination with Law Enforcement Memorial Week, Sheriff John Jordan presented the 1996 Timothy J. Ruopp Award to Sgt. Eric Friedrich for the outstanding officer nominated by the sheriff's office. The award is presented to the "Highest Tribute for Outstanding Service to His Department, Community and his Fellow Officers in the Name of Timothy J. Ruopp."

The award has been presented yearly since 1984 in honor of Timothy J. Ruopp, a past employee of the Cape Girardeau County sheriff's office. Ruopp was killed in the line of duty as a law enforcement officer in California.

The presentation was made at the sheriff's office by Jordan along with several members of the Ruopp family.

Friedrich has been with the sheriff's office since Sept. 1, 1988, He is in the investigations division.

Three Copeland Excellency awards were also presented Wednesday. Jordan presented the awards to the officers along with former Sheriff Norman Copeland.

Deputy Ron Eakins of field operations, Karen Gramlisch of business operations and Don Hanscom of jail operations were this year's recipients.

An employee from each division is given to an award. The awards show that these employees have demonstrated that they are striving for excellency in the performance of the task assigned to them, the awards read.

Eakins has been with the sheriff's department since January 1994; Gramlisch since May 1995 and Hanscom since January 1985.