MADD Georgia Announces Golden Shield Honors

NEWS RELEASE March 26, 2012

For More Information: Katie Fallon, GOHS Public Information Officer 404-463-0611(O) or 404-309-7591 (C) [email protected]

MADD Georgia Announces Golden Shield Honors Law Enforcement Statewide Recognized for DUI Efforts

(ATLANTA) The Georgia chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recently recognized law enforcement officers from all over the state at their 8th Annual Golden Shield Honors.

The awards program, which is funded through a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), allows MADD to recognize those police officers, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers who have excelled in stopping drunk driving, supporting victims of DUI and preventing underage drinking.

Barry Martin, Executive Director of MADD Georgia, commended the work the award winners have done to combat the problem of impaired driving in Georgia.

“Since 1982, the number of DUI fatalities has been cut in half,” Martin said. “This is largely due to the diligent and committed work of our law enforcement community. The Golden Shield Awards are an excellent opportunity to thank the rank and file police officer for the work they do to make our streets safer from drunk drivers.”

The awards program includes several statewide recognitions, as well as seven categories (based on department size) each in Officer DUI Heroes and Agency DUI Heroes.

 Statewide Georgia State Patrol Post of the Year: Post 31 Valdosta  Statewide Agency of the Year: Gwinnett Police Department  Golden Achievement Award: Lt. Russell Walker, Blairsville Police Department  GA Traffic Enforcement Network of the Year: Metro Atlanta  Statewide Officer of the Year: TFC Michael Land (Georgia State Patrol)  HEAT Unit/DUI Task Force of the Year: Gwinnett Police DUI Taskforce  Law Enforcement Challenge Winner: Canton Police Department

Officer DUI Heroes:  Tommy Long, East Ellijay Police Department (67 DUI arrests)  Travis Brian Stovall, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (74 DUI arrests)  Shawn Lee Myers, Garden City Police Department (70 DUI arrests)  Stephen Martin, Henry County Police Department (207 DUI arrests)  Joshua Ott, Roswell Police Department (277 DUI arrests)  Shawn Mycols, Gwinnett Police Department (280 DUI arrests)  Kevin Pope, Georgia State Patrol Nighthawks North (191 DUI arrests)

Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Public Information Unit Public Information Officer Katie Fallon, 404-463-0611, [email protected] 7 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SE, Suite 643, Atlanta, GA 30334 Follow “Georgia GOHS” on Facebook and “gohsgeorgia” on Twitter Nathan Deal, Governor Harris Blackwood, Director Agency DUI Heroes:  Category 1 (1-10 Officers): East Ellijay Police Department (114 DUI arrests)  Category 2 (11-25 Officers): Port Wentworth Police Department (336 DUI arrests)  Category 3 (26-50 Officers): Houston County Sheriff’s Office (429 DUI arrests)  Category 4 (51 -100 Officers): Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (396 DUI arrests)  Category 5 (101-250 Officers): Henry County Police Department (981 DUI arrests)  Category 6 (251+ Officers): Gwinnett Police Department (2,630 DUI arrests)  Category 7 (Georgia State Patrol Post): Post 31 Valdosta (530 DUI arrests)

This year’s awards program included appearances by Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens and GOHS Director Harris Blackwood.

“We are so happy to be involved in the Golden Shield Honors every year,” said Director Blackwood. “These officers put their lives on the line every day to protect us from some of the most dangerous drivers on our roads. It’s an honor to gather them and their peers to give them the recognition they deserve.”

To be considered for the annual awards program, officers submit applications at the beginning of every year. Hundreds of law enforcement officers are then invited to the awards luncheon.

For more information on MADD Georgia’s Golden Shield Honors, visit www.madd.org/local-offices/ga/ and for more information on the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.

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