MADD Georgia celebrates hundreds of officers at 15th Annual Golden Shield Honors

540 guests gathered at the Cobb Galleria Centre to honor the Georgia law enforcement community for outstanding achievement in DUI enforcement at the 15th Annual Golden Shield Honors. For the past 15 years, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving Georgia state office to celebrate law enforcement officers and agencies, DUI prosecutors, and community advocates.

The Golden Shield Honors encourages law enforcement officers and agencies to work hand-in-hand with MADD Georgia to ensure there are No More Victims. Statewide accolades were given to officers and agencies with the highest DUI arrests (DUI Heroes), Statewide Officer of the Year, Statewide Agency of the Year, Prosecutor of the Year, Golden Achievement Award, and more.Deputy Richard Justice of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office had the highest single number of DUI arrest with 355 last year. Cobb County Police Department brought in an impressive 1578 DUI arrests. The officers and agencies honored at this year’s awards removed over 25,000 impaired drivers off Georgia roads and spent thousands of hours educating the citizens in their communities in 2018 on the dangers of drunk and drugged driving and underaged drinking. A full list of 2019 winners can be seen below.

This year’s ceremony was full of surprises. Freddie the Falcon and Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders greeted officers and guests as they arrived – Freddie was even warned by GSP to slow it down on his scooter! Star 94.1 FM’s Jeff Dauler and Jenn Hobby of The Jeff & Jenn Show were the hosts for the afternoon. Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan popped in on Georgia’s finest with a special address to honorees. Brian Mixon of Perry Police Department delivered a very witty yet motivating keynote address sharing with law enforcement the 4 Types of Officers and how they get the job done.

In addition to celebrating officers at the awards ceremony, MADD Georgia paid tribute to the 10 fallen officers of 2018 and 2019. A very touching Mission Moment was shared by Brenda Fernander – wife of Neil Fernander, Volunteer Firefighter from Merriwether County who was killed by a drunk driver.

MADD Georgia attributes the success and ability to host such an event largely to support of its sponsors Georgia Automobile Dealers Association, AAA, and Brian “Buck” Rogers. Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety was presented a special award for their 15 years of partnership. Thanks to the generosity of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, a few lucky officers went home with cool prizes such as a signed jersey by Atlanta Falcons’ #11 Julio Jones and #5 Julio Gonzalez Pirez of Atlanta United – the 2018 MLS Cup Champions.