Tennessee Law Enforcement Agencies Earn Statewide, National Honors

More than 50 awards earned by agencies from across the stateNashville, TN – Governor Phil Bredesen and Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely today released the winners of state and national honors presented by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO). Law enforcement agencies from across Tennessee were presented awards during the second annual Law Enforcement Challenge Awards Ceremony held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville.

The Law Enforcement Challenge is a competition designed to recognize and reward the best overall traffic safety programs across the state and across the country as judged by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Similar sizes and types of agencies were judged on local efforts to enforce laws and educate the public about occupant protection, impaired driving and speeding. The 25 winning safety programs combined officer training, public information and enforcement to reduce crashes and injuries within their jurisdictions.

A total of thirty-one awards were presented honoring the “best of the best” traffic safety programs in the state (see attached list). Nationally, Tennessee agencies earned six top honors. Regardless of type or size, all of the agencies that applied were considered for these awards.

“This program recognizes the most outstanding efforts of our law enforcement agencies and officers across the state,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “Their good work deserves to be honored and rewarded as these dedicated public servants continue to risk their lives for the good of their communities.”

“The National Law Enforcement Challenge is a mechanism that challenges law enforcement agencies to set comprehensive goals, strive to reach new heights, and share their experiences,” said Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely.

GHSO Director Kendell Poole added,” The competition has no losers – only winners, for saving lives and reducing the frequency and severity of injuries on our highways. The awards presented today illustrate not only the achievements made in highway safety but our appreciation.”

Click here for a list of winners.

For more information about TDOT’s Governor’s Highway Safety Office, go the to TDOT web site at www.state.tn.us/tdot.