(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 23
rd 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: