NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 3, 2007

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-600-8119

 

COLUMBIA – Several Midlands area law enforcement agencies 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.

 

Awards were given to agencies and officers throughout the state, including the following in the Midlands:

 

• Eastover Police Department, led by Chief Timothy Ford, was recognized with an Agency DUI HERO Award for agencies with up to 10 officers.
• Newberry Police Department, led by Chief Jackie Swindler, received an Agency DUI HERO Award for agencies with up to 25 officers.
• Sgt. Jeremy Sooter, of the Lexington Police Department, was honored with an Officer DUI HERO Award for agencies with up to 50 officers. Sooter logged 25 DUI arrests in 2006.

 

In addition to the law enforcement awards, MADD recognized several volunteer Community Action Site Leaders, including:

 

• Olivia Mitchell, of Clarendon
• Debbie Sellers, of Kershaw
• Jo Thames, of Sumter

 

A complete list of winners follows:

 

• 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