From left are interim Moultrie Police Chief Sean Ladson, Investigator Carly Davis, 1st Sgt. Rocky Hancock and Investigative Division administrative staff Melinda Lee.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The City of Moultrie Police Department was honored last week during the 17th Annual Governor’s Challenge Awards program hosted by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah.

“The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is pleased to recognize the Moultrie Police Department as our ‘Rookie of the Year’ in the 2017 Georgia Governor’s Challenge awards,” G.O.H.S. Law Enforcement Services Director Roger Hayes said.  “Their partnership with us and their efforts to make streets in their city safe to drive, walk and bike is appreciated.”

The program is designed to award outstanding achievements in highway safety enforcement and education. The awards recognize agencies for the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for unique problem-solving in their communities, using public information activities, and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts.

“The Governor’s Challenge program is our opportunity to recognize innovative and effective highway safety programs and to thank these agencies for their hard work,” said Hayes. “These agencies represent the best of the best and they are making a difference in their communities and across the state.”

The Rookie of the Year award goes to the agency with the highest score among all agencies that are in their first year participating in the challenge, a G.O.H.S. spokeswoman said.