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Sheriff speaks to group at Ole Miss By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer  | Courtesy photo
Honorees
David
Cook (left), a Marshall County deputy, received the Rob Warren
Outstanding Criminal Justice Student Award, while Sheriff Kenny
Dickerson was the guest of honor for the banquet. |
Marshall
County Sheriff Kenny Dickerson was the invited speaker and guest of
honor at the recent banquet of the University of Mississippi Department
of Legal Studies, School of Applied Sciences. The
department, chaired by Dr. David McElreath, provides crucial training
in the justice system to law enforcement officers and those moving into
careers in criminal justice. Dickerson, a nearly
40-year veteran law enforcement officer, is well known among his peers
over the state of Mississippi as well as outside the state. David
Cook was recognized at the banquet as the recipient of the Rob Warren
Outstanding Criminal Justice Student Award. Cook has pursued his higher
education while continuing to work at the Marshall County Sheriff’s
Department. The award is given to the outstanding criminal justice
student of the year. Dickerson was invited to
speak before a group of close to 200 educators and law enforcement
officers, judges and district attorneys because of his many years of
service to law enforcement and support to the University, according to
Jimmy Warren, special agent with the sheriff’s department and retired
deputy U.S. Attorney. The sheriff applauded the
Department of Legal Studies for its contributions to educating law
enforcement officers. The department gives law enforcement officers the
tools they need to do their jobs and to combat ever increasing
sophistication of crimes and criminals. McElreath said Dickerson is a “model of professionalism.” “He
is, without question, a man of the highest integrity and honor. He has
been an outstanding supporter of the department for years, employing
graduates, training interns, influencing our next generation of justice
professionals.” Dickerson commented on the
importance of dedicated, as well as educated, officers who serve in
public safety. As a veteran of the Mississippi Highway Patrol,
Dickerson worked many years in criminal investigations before being
elected as sheriff of Marshall County in 1995. During his tenure with
MHP he was nominated and successfully graduated from the FBI National
Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Dickerson took the
officer of the year award during his first year with MHP and was
recipient of the patrol’s highest honor for bravery and heroism in the
line of duty. “In my many years of law
enforcement, I have seen the best of the best and the worst of the
worst, relating to crimes and crime victims,” he said. “Many of the
sights I have seen during my career have caused me to experience many
nightmares during my sleep. My experience, education and training have
helped me to serve the citizens of Marshall County and state in an
effective manner. The privilege of working with some of the best people
in the judiciary and attorneys on both sides and fellow elected
officials has been most rewarding, as has been the case with my entire
staff and other law enforcement agencies. “I do
my best to carry out the duties of the sheriff’s office in a way and
manner that is fair to the young and old, rich and poor, black and
white. I take the office very seriously, not as an ego trip, and have
always been thankful to the electorate who put me in office.” Dickerson said he has to be able to say no but is very careful never to deliberately mislead anyone. He
said he thanks God most for watching over him and others who work in
public safety during the many dangerous encounters and he remains most
humble for God’s over watching and care. |
