Jim Shuler, GOHS Public Affairs
404-656-6996 or 888-420-0767
More than 500 traffic enforcement officers, highway safety advocates, and elected officials heard the Deputy Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol present this year’s keynote address at the 6th Annual Governor’s Challenge Awards at the
Georgia International Convention Center. Every year, the Governor’s Office of Highway
Safety (GOHS) presents this prestigious awards event to recognize the outstanding performance and dedicat ion of Georgia’s law enforcement agencies.
“Your high-profile sobriety road-checks and concentrated patrols are most definitely having a life-saving effect ,” said California Highway Patrol Deputy Commissioner Joe Farrow as he addressed police, deputies and state troopers from around the state of Georgia.
“Today, you’re being honored for the job you do every day, saving the lives of fellow
Georgians each time you send an impaired driver to jail and each time you write a speeding ticket.. And especially when you cite drivers for unbuckled safety belts. Thank you for keeping your roadways and communities safe.
”
“We are proud to have CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow as our keynote speaker this year and equally proud of the selfless, lifesaving efforts of Georgia’s law enforcement community,” said Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
The Governor’s Challenge is a GOHS incentive program designed to award outstanding achievements in both highway safety enforcement and education. Georgia law enforcement agencies are judged on both the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for innovative problem solving programs in their communities. The judging also examines how local agencies adapt their public information activities and create departmental policies to support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts. Here are some highlights:
The law enforcement agency with the highest overall evaluation each year is presented with the “Governor’s Cup.” The winner of the 2005 Governor’s Cup is the Georgia State
Patrol Troop B with a score of 155 out of a possible 195. Chief Joel Cochran at the
Tennille Police Department, was the winner of the Governor’s Challenge Grand Prize, a fully equipped police pursuit package, 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe, Governor’s Challenge
Vehicle.
The Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the agency with the highest overall score of first time entries. The Rookie of the Year Award went to the Cornelia Police Department with a score of 125.50 out of a possible 195. GOHS received a total of 63 applications from participating Georgia law enforcement agencies this year. All applications are forwarded to the International Association of Chiefs of Police for independent judging.
Thirty-one Georgia agencies were recognized for their excellence during the 2006
Governor’s Challenge Awards Banquet.
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
34 Peachtree Street —Suite 800—One Park Tower—Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Visit us on the web at www.georgiahighwaysafety.org
Sonny Perdue, Governor Robert F. Dallas, Director
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“The Annual Governor’s
Challenge Awards recognize the dedication of these officers to increase safety belt use, slow down speeders and reduce impaired and aggressive driving, ” said GOHS Director Bob Dallas. “We congratulate these 2006 winning agencies.”
Agency Georgia Class Georgia Rank
Class 1
Pembroke Police Department
Hahira Police Department
Tennille Police
Class 1
Class 1
Class 1
1 st Place
2 nd Place
3 rd Place
Class 2
Class 2 1 st Place Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Lavonia Police Department
Hartwell Police Department
Adel Police Department
Class 2
Class 2
2 nd Place
3 rd Place
Class 3
Tift County Sheriff's Office
Elbert County Sheriff’s Office
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office
Snellville Police Department
Class 3
Class 3
Class 3
1st Place
2 nd Place
3 rd Place
Class 4
Smyrna Police Department
Dalton Police Department
Peachtree City Police Department
Class 4
Class 4
Class 4
1 st Place
2 nd Place
3 rd Place
Class 5
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
Coweta County Sheriff’s Department
Class 5
Class 5
Class 5
1 st Place
2 nd Place
3 rd Place Clayton County Police Department
Class 7
Atlanta Police Department
Dekalb County Police
Class 8
Georgia State University Police Department
Georgia Southern University Police Department
Class 7
Class 7
Class 8
Class 8
1 st Place
2 nd Place
1 st Place
2 nd Place
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
34 Peachtree Street —Suite 800—One Park Tower—Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Visit us on the web at www.georgiahighwaysafety.org
Sonny Perdue, Governor Robert F. Dallas, Director
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Georgia State Patrol Troop B
Georgia State Patrol Troop J
Georgia State Patrol Troop G
GSP Troop
Georgia State Patrol 1 st Place
Georgia State Patrol 2 nd Place
Georgia State Patrol 3 rd Place
Traffic Enforcement Network
Coastal Area Traffic Enforcement Network
Mountain Area Traffic Enforcement Network
Traffic Enf. Network
Traffic Enf. Network
Southern Regional Traffic Enforcement Network Traffic Enf. Network
1 st Place
2 nd Place
3 rd Place
Traffic Enforcement Network Award – This award is given to a network that displays exceptional leadership and excels at promoting the mission of the Traffic Enforcement
Networks, through team building of law enforcement agencies within their region as well as the development of innovative approaches to highway safety: Coastal Area Traffic
Enforcement Network, Coordinator Capt. Luther Hires, Jesup PD & Asst.
Coordinator BJ Kennedy-Leopold, GSP.
In addition to the agency awards, ten Special Awards were presented covering major fields of traffic safety and areas of awareness, prevention, protection and enforcement.
The following are the winners of the 2006 Governor’s Challenge Special Awards:
Agency Georgia Special Category
Pembroke Police Department
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Georgia State Patrol HEAT-NIGHTHAWKS
Tift County Sheriff’s Office
Adel Police Department
Elbert County Sheriff’s Office
Cornelia Police Department
Alpharetta Police Department
Atlanta Police Department
Valdosta Police Department
Underage Alcohol Prevention
Impaired Driving Awareness
Occupant Protection Program
Speed Awareness Program
Child Passenger Safety Program
Rookie of the Year
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety
Technology Award
(MORE MORE MORE)
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
34 Peachtree Street —Suite 800—One Park Tower—Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Visit us on the web at www.georgiahighwaysafety.org
Sonny Perdue, Governor Robert F. Dallas, Director
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(PAGE FOUR)
Underage Alcohol Prevention Award- Presented to an agency for making notable efforts in addressing the problem of underage drinking and address the problem of impaired driving by those under the legal drinking age: Pembroke Police Department, Chief
William Collins.
Impaired Driving Awareness Award- Presented to an agency making notable efforts in addressing the problem of impaired driving: Franklin Co. Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Steve
Thomas and the Georgia State Pa trol H.E.A.T. “NightHawks” Unit, GSP Colonel Bill
Hitchens.
Occupant Protection Award Presented to the agency that demonstrates outstanding efforts to promote and enforce occupant protection laws: Tift County Sheriff’s Office,
Sheriff Gary Vowell.
Speed Awareness Award- Presented to an agency making notable efforts in addressing the problem of speeding: Adel Police Department, Chief Bill Butler.
Child Passenger Safety Award- Presented to the agency that demonstrates outstanding efforts to enforce and promote child passenger safety in their community: Elbert County
Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Barry Haston.
Rookie Of The Year Award- Presented to the agency that is a first time entry into the
Governor’s Challenge with the highest score. All entries are considered regardless of category. Cornelia Police Department, Chief Frank Andrews.
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement- Presented to an agency that demonstrate notable efforts to promote and enforce occupant protection laws and overall comprehensive education and enforcement programs for commercial vehicles: Alpharetta Police
Department, Chief Gary George.
Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Award- Presented to an agency that demonstrates notable efforts to promote and enforce bicycle and/or pedestrian laws.
1 st Place- Atlanta Police Department Chief Richard Pennington
Presented to an agency making notable efforts in addressing traffic safety concerns using new and/or innovative technology:
(MORE MORE MORE)
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
34 Peachtree Street —Suite 800—One Park Tower—Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Visit us on the web at www.georgiahighwaysafety.org
Sonny Perdue, Governor Robert F. Dallas, Director
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Last year, IACP judges considered 360 national entries from 29 states and Georgia was honored to have ten National winners in the IACP Nat’l Law Enforcement Challenge. This year, six winning agencies from Georgi a’s Governor’s Challenge Event earned national recognition from the International Association of Chief’s of Police (IACP).
Taylor County Sheriff’s Office
Tift County Sheriff's Office
Elbert County Sheriff's Office
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff’s Office Class 1
Sheriff’s Office Class 2
Sheriff’s Office Class 3
Sheriff’s Office Class 3
Department of Public Safety State Police 3
2 nd Place
2 nd Place
2 nd Place
2 nd Place
2 nd Place
In National Special Categories, the Georgia State PatrolGOHS HEAT Team “Nighthawks” received the Impaired Driving Awareness Award from the International Association of
Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Challenge.
Georgia State Patrol –GOHS HEAT
Team “Nighthawks”
Impaired Driving Awareness
Award
“Participation in campaigns such as Click It Or Ticket, Operation Zero Tolerance, and the
100 Days of Summer HEAT has proven that high-visibility enforc ement of Georgia’s traffic laws is the key to saving lives and reducing injuries on Georgia’s highways. Through these ongoing GOHS initiatives, Georgia law enforcement agencies are accustomed to working together daily to promote traffic safety,” said GOHS Director Bob Dallas. Dallas told members of GATEN (Georgia Traffic Enforcement Network), “Thank you for your service to your communities. I am proud of the way you have represented Georgia. You make us all proud. I know that once again this year, you are motivated and qualified to meet the
Governor’s Challenge.”
(END RELEASE)
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
34 Peachtree Street —Suite 800—One Park Tower—Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Visit us on the web at www.georgiahighwaysafety.org
Sonny Perdue, Governor Robert F. Dallas, Director
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