DUI Enforcement Awards Troop 6
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2007
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-600-8119
COLUMBIA – Several law enforcement agencies and officers in the Lowcountry were
among those honored today by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety
(SCDPS) and MADD South Carolina for their efforts in 2006 to keep impaired
drivers off the road.
About 300 law enforcement, elected officials and victims gathered in Columbia
for the 2nd annual DUI Enforcement Recognition Ceremony. Solicitor Gregory
Hembree, president of the S.C. Solicitors’ Association, delivered the keynote
address.
Awards were given to agencies and officers from around the state, including the
following in the Lowcountry:
The Goose Creek Police Department, led by Chief Harvey Becker, received an
Agency DUI HERO Award for agencies with up to 100 officers. The award recognizes
local law enforcement agencies in categories based on size that posted the most
DUI arrests in 2006. Goose Creek Police Department made 102 DUI arrests.
Cpl. David Kopenhaver, of the Ridgeland Police Department, was honored with the
DUI HERO Award for local law enforcement agencies with up to 25 officers. He
made 49 DUI arrests last year.
Patrolman Jacob Schwenk, of the Isle of Palms Police Department, was named the
Rookie of the Year. Schwenk, who joined the department in June 2006, was
nominated for the contributions he has made to the department’s efforts to step
up its impaired driving enforcement. He made 12 DUI arrests and 28 additional
alcohol-related cases.
The 14th Circuit Law Enforcement Network won the category recognizing a network
that has demonstrates excellence in impaired driving enforcement and takes an
active role in statewide campaigns to address the DUI problem. Ridgeland’s
Kopenhaver is the coordinator of the network which includes local agencies in
Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.
In addition to the law enforcement awards, MADD recognized several volunteer
Community Action Site Leaders, including Frank Hamilton, of Beaufort.
Following is a complete list of winners:
Agency DUI HERO Awards (Several awards based on agency size) Eastover Police
Department, Chief Timothy Ford Darlington Police Department, Chief Jerry Cox
Newberry Police Department, Chief Jackie Swindler Goose Creek Police Department,
Chief Harvey Becker Myrtle Beach Police Department, Chief Warren Gall
Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Chuck Wright
Officer DUI HERO Awards (Several awards based on agency size) Cpl. David
Kopenhaver, Ridgeland Police Department Sgt. Jeremy Sooter, Lexington Police
Department Deputy Charlie Musselwhite, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Patrolman
1st Class Shon McClusky, Myrtle Beach Police Department Deputy Jason Kramer,
Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office
Trooper DUI HERO Award – Lance Corporal Stephen D. Poole, Troop 4 (Cherokee,
Union, York, Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster and Chesterfield counties) S.C.
Highway Patrol Troop of the Year – Troop 4 The S.C. State Transport Police Award
of Excellence – District 6 (Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Berkeley, Jasper
and Beaufort counties); also recognized were L/Cpls. Anthony Roberts, James
Eagleson, Robert Cooper, Thomas Sullivan and Vernon Bryan; S/Off. Christopher
McKellar and Offs. Brian Mitchell and John Dorroh Judicial Circuit of the Year –
7th Judicial Circuit, Solicitor Trey Gowdy (Spartanburg and Cherokee counties)
Prosecutor of the Year – Barry Barnette, 7th Judicial Circuit S.C. Law
Enforcement Network of the Year – 14th Circuit, Coordinator Cpl. David
Kopenhaver, Ridgeland Police Department Agency of the Year – Spartanburg County
Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Chuck Wright Rookie of the Year – Patrolman Jacob
Schwenk, Isle of Palms Police Department Officer of the Year – Deputy Jason
Kramer, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office