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NEWS RELEASE
Friday, December 9, 2022
Contact:
Robert Hydrick
Communications Director
(404) 463-1751 (o) | (404) 859-0141 (c)
robert.hydrick@gohs.ga.gov

 
Governor's Challenge Awards Celebrate 23rd Anniversary as Law Enforcement Honored
Departments large and small recognized for contributions to highway safety
 
(MACON) The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety today honored 31 different Georgia law enforcement agencies for their year-round work to save lives and reduce traffic crashes on our roads during the 23rd  annual Governor’s Challenge Awards held at the Macon Centreplex.

An annual recognition program for statewide law enforcement agencies of all sizes, the program featured awards in eight different categories based on department size, as well as Campus and University Police, Military Police, Traffic Enforcement Network of the Year, Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator of the Year, HEAT Team of the Year and several specialty program area awards.  The judging for the 2022 Georgia Governor Challenge Awards was done by highway safety experts from Tennessee and South Carolina.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office won the 20202 Governor's Cup.  Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office won the award given to the top performing agency in all categories with a score of 183 out of possible 225 points.   

The Governor's Challenge program honors law enforcement agencies for their work to prevent crashes, injuries and deaths in their communities, college campuses and military installations. 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 unique problem-solving in their communities, using public information activities, and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts.

"Presenting these awards is a highlight of our year because it reaffirms to these departments that they are making an impact in their communities when it comes to saving lives on our roads," Governor's Office of Highway Safety Director Allen Poole said. "We're honored every year to return to this program and let these officers, deputies and troopers share the spotlight for helping keep Georgia's roads safe."

Another highlight of the awards program was the always-anticipated awarding of this year's Governor's Challenge vehicle, a fully equipped 2022 Dodge Durango. To award the vehicle, 10 agency names are drawn out of a pool that includes any agency that won an award. Those agencies each choose a key and whoever has the key that illuminates a special law enforcement light bar, wins. This year's vehicle was won by the Henry County Police Department. A highlight video of the win can be viewed at https://fb.watch/hjfA7hOxoM/ 

"Georgia has law enforcement agencies large and small in all corners of the state and that's what's great about Governor's Challenge." GOHS Law Enforcement Services Director Roger Hayes said. "These awards recognize the efforts of all agencies, no matter their size, on working towards the ultimate goal of zero traffic deaths on our roads. That is a goal we will never stop reaching for and we do that by encouraging departments that urge their citizens to buckle up, slow down, drive sober and never drive distracted."

The full list of this year's Governor's Challenge winners is as follows:
AWARD CATEGORY PLACE
   
Category 1: 1-10 Officers  
Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office 1st Place
Demorest Police Department 2nd Place
Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office 3rd Place
   
Category 2: 11-25 Officers  
Sandersville Police Department 1st Place
Centerville Police Department 2nd Place
Washington County Sheriff’s Office 3rd Place
   
Category 3: 26-45 Officers  
Calhoun Police Department 1st Place
Dublin Police Department 2nd Place
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office 3rd Place
   
Category 4: 46-75 Officers  
Snellville Police Department 1st Place
Crisp County Sheriff’s Office 2nd Place
Pooler Police Department 3rd Place
   
Category 5: 76-100  
Rome Police Department 1st Place
Liberty County Sheriff’s Office 2nd Place
Floyd County Police Department 3rd Place
   
Category 6: 101-200  
Warner Robins Police Department 1st Place
Gainesville Police Department 2nd Place
Newton County Sheriff’s Office 3rd Place
   
Category 7: 201-500  
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office 1st Place
Hall County Sheriff’s Office 2nd Place
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office 3rd Place
   
Category 8:  501+  
Cobb County Police Department 1st Place
Dekalb County Police Department 2nd Place
Atlanta Police Department 3rd Place
   
   
Traffic Enforcement Network of the Year  
Northeast Traffic Enforcement Network 1st Place
Mountain Area Traffic Enforcement Network 2nd Place
Middle Georgia Traffic Enforcement Network 3rd Place
   
Coordinator of the Year Robin Krockum
 
Asst Coordinator of Year Joseph Pettus
   
HEAT Team of the Year  
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office 1st Place
Habersham County Sheriff’s Office 2nd Place
GSP Nighthawks South 3rd Place
   
SPECIAL CATEGORY AWARDS  
Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Impaired Driving
Calhoun Police Department Speed Awareness
Calhoun Police Department Occupant Protection
Snellville Police Department Distracted Driving
Alto Police Department Rookie of the Year
Rome Police Department Child Passenger Safety
Glynn County Police Department Bike/Pedestrian Safety
Dublin Police Department Teen/Young Driver Safety
Warner Robins Police Department Motorcycle Safety
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office (200 Points) Governor’s Cup

Media outlets are granted authorization to use photos from the 2022 Governor’s Challenge Awards posted on GOHS Facebook and Instagram pages.
 
 (END RELEASE)
Copyright © 2022 GOHS, All rights reserved.


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