The Washington County Sheriff’s Office took home two awards during the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s (GOHS) 22nd Annual Governor’s Challenge Awards held on Friday, October 29 at the Macon Centreplex.
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.
“Georgia has law enforcement agencies large and small in all corners of the state and that’s what’s great about Governor’s Challenge.” said GOHS Law Enforcement Services Director Roger Hayes. “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 Washington County Sheriff’s Office took home the first-place award in Category 2, for agencies with 11-25 officers. They were also awarded the Regional Challenge Award.
“We are extremely proud of the men and women that serve on our team,” said Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran. “Without them, none of this would be possible.”
Sheriff Cochran went on to thank the highway safety partners who share the common goal of keeping highways safe for the public.
“We can’t go without saying thank you to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and their team for being our friends and sharing their mission,” stated Sheriff Cochran.
In total, 31 different Georgia law enforcement agencies were recognized during this year’s Governor’s Challenge Awards for their year-round work to save lives and reduce traffic crashes on our roads.
As previously reported by WACO 100, in an impressive feat for Washington County, the Sandersville Police Department was also awarded in GOHS Category 2 winning Second Place.
