MACON - More than 25 different law enforcement agencies were honored recently during the 15th Annual Governor's Challenge awards program hosted by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety at the Macon Centreplex.
The list includes the Hall, Habersham, Barrow and Forsyth county sheriff's offices; the Cornelia and Lavonia police departments; and Georgia State Patrol Troop B, which encompasses much of northeast Georgia.
An annual recognition program for law enforcement agencies of all sizes from all over the state, the program features awards in seven different categories based on department size as well as several other specialty categories and a grand prize, the Governor's Cup, given to the top performing department among all categories.
The winners were as follows:
| AWARD CATEGORY | PLACE |
| Category 1- 1-10 Officers | |
| Pearson PD | 1st Place |
| Reynolds PD | 2nd Place |
| Butler PD | 3rd Place |
| Category 2- 11-25 Officers | |
| Byron PD | 1st Place |
| Cornelia PD | 2nd Place |
| Lavonia PD | 3rd Place |
| Category 3- 26-50 Officers | |
| Milledgeville PD | 1st Place |
| Habersham SO | 2nd Place |
| Snellville PD | 3rd Place |
| Category 4- 51-100 Officers | |
| Peachtree City PD | 1st Place |
| Dalton PD | 2nd Place |
| Rome PD | 3rd Place |
| Category 5- 101-250 | |
| Barrow SO | 1st Place |
| Douglas SO | 2nd Place |
| Henry Co PD | 3rd Place |
| Category 6- 251-500 | |
| Forsyth SO | 1st Place |
| Hall SO | 2nd Place |
| Columbus PD | 3rd Place |
Category 7- 501+ |
|
| Cobb County PD | 1st Place |
| Dekalb PD | 2nd Place |
| Campus and University Police | |
| UGA PD | 1st Place |
| Ga. Southern Pub. Safety | 2nd Place |
| GCSU PD | 3rd Place |
Georgia State Patrol Troops |
|
| Troop G | 1st Place- Top Troop Award |
| Troop B | 2nd Place |
| Troop F | 3rd Place |
| MCCD / DPS COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE | |
| Region 8 | 1st Place |
| Region 1 | 2nd Place |
| Region 9 | 3rd Place |
| SPECIAL CATEGORY AWARDS | |
| Byron PD | Impaired Driving |
| Peachtree City PD | Speed Award |
| Peachtree City PD | Occupant Protection |
| Dalton PD | Distracted Driving |
| Cobb County PD | Motorcycle Safety |
| Pearson PD | Rookie of the Year |
| Columbus PD | Bike/Pedestrian Safety |
| Fitzgerald PD | Technology Award |
| Coastal Area Traffic Enforcement Network | Traffic Enforcement Network |
| Peachtree City PD (176.3) | Governor’s Cup |
Designed to award outstanding achievements in highway safety enforcement and education, the awards recognize agencies for the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for innovative problem-solving in their communities, using public information activities, and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts.
“We are extremely grateful for the hard work of each and every department that participated this year,” GOHS Director Harris Blackwood said. “We hope each of our winners continue to compete in Governor’s Challenge for years to come.”
“Governor’s Challenge is now in its 15th year. One of the reasons we do this is to make sure all these law enforcement agencies know that no matter how large or small, no achievement goes unnoticed,” GOHS Law Enforcement Services Director Roger Hayes said. “These men and women put their lives on the line every day and we want to recognize them for their continued commitment to highway safety.”
