The 13th annual event was hosted by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) and held recently at the Macon Centreplex.
An annual recognition program of law enforcement agencies of all sizes and from all over the state, the program features recognition in seven different categories based on department size as well as several other specialty categories.
GPD won the Technology Award and HCSO placed 2nd among all Category 6 law enforcement agencies in the the state, those with 251-500 officers. The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office placed first in that category in addition to picking up awards for Rookie of the Year and its Motorcycle Safety program. FCSO is also the winner of this year's Governor's Trophy.
In the Georgia State Patrol category, northeast Georgia's Troop B won second place. It also placed second in this category last year. Troop B covers Hall, Banks, White, Habersham, Hart, Franklin, Rabun, Stephens, Fannin, Gilmer, Towns, Union, Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oconee, Forsyth, Dawson and Lumpkin counties.
Other winners from northeast Georgia: Elberton Police Department, Hartwell Police Department, Habersham County Sheriff's Office, Barrow County Sheriff's Office, and Stephens County Sheriff's Office.
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.
"I want to congratulate Troop Commander Capt. Tommy Waldrop Jr on leading such a dedicated group of state troopers," said GOHS Director Harris Blackwood. "This recognition just goes to show how dedicated they are to protecting and serving their community."
"For more than a decade, we've been rewarding those law enforcement agencies who, no matter their size, do their very best and more to keep their roads and highways as safe as possible for their community," said GOHS Law Enforcement Services Director Powell Harrelson. "Every year, we look forward to recognizing our Governor's Challenge winners for their continued dedication to highway safety."
COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS:
Category 1- 1-10 Officers
Tennille Police Department
1st Place
Alma Police Department
2nd Place
Reynolds Police Department
3rd Place
Category 2- 11-25 Officers
Byron Police Department
1st Place
Elberton Police Department
2nd Place
Hartwell Police Department
3rd Place
Category 3- 26-50 Officers
Snellville Police Department
1st Place
Habersham County Sheriff's Office
2nd Place
Calhoun Police Department
3rd Place
Category 4- 51-100 Officers
Tift County Sheriff's Office
1st Place
Douglas County Sheriff's Office
2nd Place
Peachtree City Police Department
3rd Place
Category 5- 101-250
Athens-Clarke County Police Department
1st Place
Barrow Co. Sheriff's Office
2nd Place
Category 6- 251-500
Forsyth Co. Sheriff's Office
1st Place
Hall Co. Sheriff's Office
2nd Place
Category 7- 501+
Cobb County Police Department
1st Place
Atlanta Police Department
2nd Place
Category 8- Campus and University Police
University of Georgia Police Department
1st Place
Georgia Southern University Public Safety
2nd Place
Georgia State Patrol Troops
Troop D
1st Place- Top Troop Award
Troop B
2nd Place
Troop A
3rd Place
SPECIAL CATEGORY AWARDS
Byron Police Department
Underage Alcohol
Barrow County Sheriff's Office
Impaired Driving
Tift County Sheriff's Office
Speed Award
Peachtree City Police Department
Occupant Protection
Byron Police Department
Child Passenger Safety
Georgia Department of Public Safety
Commercial Motor Vehicle
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
Motorcycle Safety
Rookie of the Year
Stephens County Sheriff's
Bike/Pedestrian Safety
Gainesville Police Department
Technology Award
CATEN
Traffic Enforcement Network
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
Governor's Cup
For more information about Georgia's Governor's Challenge Program, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org or call 404-656-6996.
L-R: GOHS Deputy Director Lauren Armour-Pugh, Troop B Commander Capt. Tommy Woldrop and GOHS Law Enforcement Services Director Powell Harrelson.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/11/268014