Dickerson honored as Policeman of the Year
Carol Brimm
Lt. Kirk Dickerson was honored as Outstanding Police Officer of Year by American Legion Post 353 last week. He says he owes this honor to the people he works with in the entire police department.
“It makes me look good when these people really perform,” Dickerson said. “I want to thank the administration for recognizing me and the American Legion for honoring me. I also want to thank my co-workers for making me look good. We are only as successful as the people we stand upon and I reap the benefit of their skills and professionalism. It makes life easier as a shift commander.” His selection as Policeman of the Year came as no surprise to his fellow officers.
“He is very dedicated to the police department and the community,” Capt. Willard James said. “He is a firearms instructor and always looks for ways to keep the department updated in firearms training. He is also the midnight Shift Commander and he takes his work seriously.”
Dickerson is a Cleet certified instructor and James says he implements programs to insure the department has high standards.
“Firearms is a big job,” James said. “It includes safety training, qualifications twice a year and marksmanship qualifications. Dickerson is Cleet certified in many weapons and to be an instructor he has to have exceptional marksmanship.”
Dickerson began his career in law enforcement as a reserve volunteer with the Oklahoma County Sherrif’s office. He says that experience may have given him an edge over other candidates when he applied with the Mustang Police Department in 1995. Dickerson says being a police officer is the only job he can do and be happy with himself.
“Everyone is blessed with certain gifts and this job suits my gifts,” Dickerson said. “The rewards are outstanding. Helping people and doing things for folks in times of stress, making things better for them, makes the long hours and long days worth it.”
Dickerson said the job is high stress but he has never regretted what he does for a living.
“I work with a good group of people,” Dickerson said. “We have strong bonds and friendships. It is wonderful to be recognized for what you do, especially when you work with such a high quality group of fellow employees.”
Dickerson has received several honors and awards over the course of his career. He received a purple heart from the Mustang Police Dept. after suffering a gunshot wound in 1999, letters of commendation in 1998 for his response to a superior officer who suffered a heart attack and in 1996 for ending an encounter with an armed hostage taker. He was recognized for his performance in 1997 as Outstanding Officer of the Year by the Mustang Chamber of Commerce, and received a certificate of commendation from the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Peace Officers Association for the highest firearms qualification score in 1995.
Dickerson, has been married since 1988 and has a 16-year-old daughter who attends Mustang High School. He is the lead firearms instructor for Mustang Police department and says failure as an instructor is not an option.
“I will do whatever I need to do to make sure they get the information they need. What I train can make the difference of whether they go home to their families,” Dickerson said.
Carol Brimm
Lt. Kirk Dickerson was honored as Outstanding Police Officer of Year by American Legion Post 353 last week. He says he owes this honor to the people he works with in the entire police department.
“It makes me look good when these people really perform,” Dickerson said. “I want to thank the administration for recognizing me and the American Legion for honoring me. I also want to thank my co-workers for making me look good. We are only as successful as the people we stand upon and I reap the benefit of their skills and professionalism. It makes life easier as a shift commander.” His selection as Policeman of the Year came as no surprise to his fellow officers.
“He is very dedicated to the police department and the community,” Capt. Willard James said. “He is a firearms instructor and always looks for ways to keep the department updated in firearms training. He is also the midnight Shift Commander and he takes his work seriously.”
Dickerson is a Cleet certified instructor and James says he implements programs to insure the department has high standards.
“Firearms is a big job,” James said. “It includes safety training, qualifications twice a year and marksmanship qualifications. Dickerson is Cleet certified in many weapons and to be an instructor he has to have exceptional marksmanship.”
Dickerson began his career in law enforcement as a reserve volunteer with the Oklahoma County Sherrif’s office. He says that experience may have given him an edge over other candidates when he applied with the Mustang Police Department in 1995. Dickerson says being a police officer is the only job he can do and be happy with himself.
“Everyone is blessed with certain gifts and this job suits my gifts,” Dickerson said. “The rewards are outstanding. Helping people and doing things for folks in times of stress, making things better for them, makes the long hours and long days worth it.”
Dickerson said the job is high stress but he has never regretted what he does for a living.
“I work with a good group of people,” Dickerson said. “We have strong bonds and friendships. It is wonderful to be recognized for what you do, especially when you work with such a high quality group of fellow employees.”
Dickerson has received several honors and awards over the course of his career. He received a purple heart from the Mustang Police Dept. after suffering a gunshot wound in 1999, letters of commendation in 1998 for his response to a superior officer who suffered a heart attack and in 1996 for ending an encounter with an armed hostage taker. He was recognized for his performance in 1997 as Outstanding Officer of the Year by the Mustang Chamber of Commerce, and received a certificate of commendation from the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Peace Officers Association for the highest firearms qualification score in 1995.
Dickerson, has been married since 1988 and has a 16-year-old daughter who attends Mustang High School. He is the lead firearms instructor for Mustang Police department and says failure as an instructor is not an option.
“I will do whatever I need to do to make sure they get the information they need. What I train can make the difference of whether they go home to their families,” Dickerson said.
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