Congratulations 19th Annual Golden Shield Honors Winners
The Golden Shield Honors is the paramount achievement for the State’s initiative to keep impaired drivers off of our roads, increase awareness of the consequences of driving under the influence, and impact DUI legislation.
For the past 19 years, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to celebrate law enforcement officers and agencies, and community advocates. On behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, it is with great pride that we present the 2023 recipients of the Golden Shield Honors.
Download photos from this year’s awards
Download PDF of this year’s program
2023 Golden Shield Honors Recipients
DUI Achievement Pins
Bronze – 218
Silver – 127
Gold – 32
Red – 6
DRE Achievement Pins
Red – 18
White – 7
Blue – 4
Gold – 2
Officer DUI Heroes
Category 1
1st Place – Joshua Adcock, Remerton Police Department – 58
2nd Place – Joshua Malone, Ringgold Police Department – 42
Category 2
1st Place – Billy Carter, Rossville Police Department – 103
2nd Place – Jarrett Nieves, Grovetown Police Department – 70
3rd Place – Frank Golden, Rockmart Police Department – 68
Category 3
1st Place – Benny Pena, Norcross Police Department – 266
2nd Place – Kris Hall, Habersham Sheriff’s Office – 204
3rd Place – Stephen Kinney, Barrow County Sheriff’s Office – 116
Category 4
1st Place – Ryan Provost, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office – 121
2nd Place – Christopher Roper, Marietta Police Department – 105
3rd Place – Nicholas Mordaunt, Smyrna Police Department – 89
Category 5
1st Place – William Wright, Barrow County Sheriff’s Office – 152
2nd Place – Robert Garcia, Henry County Police Department – 86
3rd Place – Dustin Bak, Alpharetta Police Department – 80
Category 6
1st Place – James Champion, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office – 302
2nd Place – Connor Johnson, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office – 130
3rd Place – DeAndre Loucks, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office – 125
Category 7
1st Place – Zachary Walker, Post 25 – 209
2nd Place – Aaron DiGiacomo, Nighthawks South – 189
3rd Place – Cameron Reese, Nighthawks South – 136
Agency DUI Heroes
Category 1
1st Place – Remerton Police Department – 94
Category 2
1st Place – Rossville Police Department – 178
2nd Place – Seminole County Sheriff’s Office – 143
3rd Place – Tybee Island – 81
Category 3
1st Place – Habersham County Sheriff’s Office – 345
2nd Place – Bryan County Sheriff’s Office – 227
3rd Place – Garden City Police Department – 165
Category 4
1st Place – Smyrna Police Department – 352
2nd Place – Pooler Police Department – 321
3rd Place – Chamblee Police Department – 232
Category 5
1st Place – Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office – 200
Category 6
1st Place – Cobb County Police Department – 1316
2nd Place – Gwinnett County Police Department – 1286
3rd Place – Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office – 1057
Category 7
1st Place – Georgia State Patrol – Post 25 – 860
2nd Place – Georgia State Patrol – Nighthawks South – 595
3rd Place – Georgia State Patrol – Post 52 – 521
Statewide Awards
Officer of the Year: Kris Hall, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office
Rookie of the Year: Jon Courtney, Thomasville Police Department
K9 Officer of the Year: Adam Pendleton, Peachtree City Police Department
Agency of the Year: Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office
Post of the Year: Georgia State Patrol, Post 25 – Grovetown
Heat/DUI Task Force of the Year: Forsyth County Heat/DUI Task Force
Traffic Enforcement Network of the Year: Northeast Traffic Enforcement Network
Golden Achievement Award: Georgia State Patrol, Post 25 – Grovetown