South Carolina Department of Public Safety_______

OFFICERS, AGENCIES HONORED FOR DUI ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2009

SCDPS CONTACTS: SID GAULDEN, 803-600-8119; BEVERLY HARRIS, 803-896-9958

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) recognized numerous law enforcement officers and agencies today for their efforts to rid South Carolina roadways of drunken drivers. The keynote speaker for the 2008 DUI Enforcement Recognition Ceremony was 7^th Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy. The event, held at Seawell’s in Columbia, drew more than 200 law enforcement officials and highway safety advocates from across the state.

Law enforcement categories and award winners follow:

Officer of the Year (five categories based on size of agency):

§  Chief Franco F. Fuda, Bonneau Police Department (10 officers or less)

§  Corporal Michael Weatherford, Darlington Police Department (11-25 officers)

§  Patrolman III Billy Lewis, Beaufort Police Department (26-50 officers) 

§  Patrolman First Class Shari Driggers, Summerville Police Department (51-100 officers)

§  (Tie) Deputy III Jason Kramer, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and Sr. Police Officer Matthew Wojslawowicz, Charleston Police Department (101 or more officers)   

Rookie of the Year: Patrolman Brandon Edge, Mauldin Police Department

Agency of the Year (five categories based on size of agency):

• Pelion Police Department (10 officers or less)
• City of Darlington Police Department (11-25 officers)
• City of Hanahan Police Department  (26-50 officers)
• (Tie) Aiken Department of Public Safety and City of Anderson Police Department
  (51-100 officers)         
• Charleston Police Department (101 or more officers)

Highway Patrol Trooper of the Year: Trooper First Class Wesley Hardymon, Troop 5 (Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg counties)

Highway Patrol Troop of the Year: Troop 5

State Transport Police District of the Year: District 3 (Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg counties)

South Carolina Law Enforcement Network Award: (Tie) 11^th Circuit (Edgefield, Lexington, McCormick, Saluda counties) and 15^th Circuit (Georgetown and Horry counties)

In addition, the following nominated officers received DUI Hero pins in bronze, silver or gold to honor their DUI arrest accomplishments in 2008.

The bronze category for 10 to 24 DUI arrests:

• Patrol Officer David Dudley, Conway Police Department
• Patrolman Brandon Edge, Mauldin Police Department
• Corporal Randall Human, City of Anderson Police Department
• Officer R. Travis Graham, Fountain Inn Police Department
• Officer Patrick Lavery, Travelers Rest Police Department
• Patrolman First Class Nicolas Lebby, Mount Pleasant Police Department
• Sergeant Jeremy Sooter, Lexington Police Department
• PSO Scott M. Were, Folly Beach Public Safety Department
• Patrolman First Class Matthew Woodall, North Charleston Police Department

The silver category for 25 to 49 DUI arrests:

• Trooper First Class Brian Bryson, SCHP Troop 3
• Officer Charles E. Carnes, Hanahan Police Department
• Sr. Master Patrol Officer Chad Causey, Conway Police Department
• Sergeant Anthony Scott Darby, Chester County Sheriff’s Office
• Chief Franco F. Fuda, Bonneau Police Department
• Corporal Dale Johnson, Lancaster Police Department   
• Patrolman First Class Jimmy D. Mathis, Hanahan Police Department
• Lance Corporal Robert H. Rowe, SC Highway Patrol Troop 7
• Senior Trooper Jordan Sinclair, SC Highway Patrol Troop 2
• Corporal Michael Weatherford, Darlington Police Department

The gold category for 50 or more DUI arrests:

• Patrolman First Class Shari Driggers, Summerville Police Department  
• Trooper First Class Sean Groubert, SC Highway Patrol, Troop 1
• Trooper First Class Wesley A. Hardymon, SC Highway Patrol, Troop 5  
• Corporal Ryan Herron, Mauldin Police Department
• Corporal Travis Hovest, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
• Deputy III Jason J. Kramer, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office
• Patrolman III Billy Lewis, Beaufort Police Department
• Lance Corporal Jeromy McCloud, SC Highway Patrol, Troop 4
• Lance Corporal Carl Woods, SCHP Troop 6
• FTO Jim Williams, Greer Police Department
• Sr. Police Officer Matthew T. Wojslawowicz, Charleston Police Department

Click Here Audio Clip for DUI Awards

Click here for Audio Clip for DUI Winners