FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 3, 2007

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-600-8119

 

COLUMBIA – Several Upstate law enforcement agencies, officers and others 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 roadways.

 

About 300 law enforcement officials, elected representatives and victims gathered in Columbia for the 2^nd annual DUI Enforcement Recognition Ceremony. Solicitor Gregory Hembree, president of the S.C. Solicitors’ Association, delivered the keynote address.

 

The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office was the most honored agency at the ceremony.

A panel of judges representing several disciplines in law enforcement and highway safety picked winners from nominations received from around the state. Awards presented to agencies in the Upstate are:

 

• Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Chuck Wright, received the Agency DUI HERO Award for agencies with up to 250 officers. The award is given to local law enforcement agencies in categories based on size that posted the most DUI arrests in 2006. The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office logged 756 DUI arrests last year, topping all nominees.
• The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office also won the Agency of the Year.  Since taking over the agency in 2005, Sheriff Chuck Wright put a renewed focus on the enforcement and prevention of DUI.
• Deputy Jason Kramer of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office won the Officer DUI HERO Award for agencies with up to 250 officers. The award is given to officers who posted the most DUI arrests among nominees in 2006 in categories based on the size of the agency. Kramer, who also won this award last year, made 230 DUI arrests in 2006.
• Kramer was also named the Officer of the Year, presented to an officer who has excelled in several areas of law enforcement, including DUI. This is the second year that Kramer has received this award.
• Deputy Charlie Musselwhite of the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office won the Officer DUI HERO Award for agencies with up to 100 officers. Musselwhite had 36 DUI arrests last year.
• Solicitor Trey Gowdy of the 7^th Judicial Circuit won the Judicial Circuit of the Year. The award goes to a circuit that has demonstrated excellence in the prosecution of impaired driving. Gowdy’s office was praised its efforts to raise awareness about the DUI and the steps taken to combat the problem.
• Prosecutor Barry Barnette of Spartanburg received Prosecutor of the Year honors. The award recognizes a prosecutor who has demonstrated excellence in the prosecution of impaired driving. Barnette was honored for his dedication to the criminal justice system, his public educational outreach and his willingness to go above and beyond to help those affected by DUI.

 

In addition to the law enforcement awards, MADD recognized several volunteer Community Action Site Leaders, including Terry Taylor, of Greenville; and Eddie and Anne Sellars, of Spartanburg.

 

Following is 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 1^st 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 – 7^th Judicial Circuit, Solicitor Trey Gowdy (Spartanburg and Cherokee counties)
• Prosecutor of the Year – Barry Barnette, 7^th Judicial Circuit
• S.C. Law Enforcement Network of the Year – 14^th 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