Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Places in National Safety Challenge

Another win for the Franklin County Sheriff’s office and some national recognition as well.

According to Sheriff Stevie Thomas, his department placed in the top three for 2012 in their division in the National Highway Safety Award Challege .

“For eight out of the last 10 years,  the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has placed in the top three in the National Highway Safety Challenge.  This year, the department will receive an award for placing third in the nation in the Sheriff’s Category Two.”

Sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Highway Safety Award challenge is a competition among national and international law enforcement agencies to recognize outstanding law enforcement traffic safety programs.

 According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police Web site, the program provides law enforcement agencies with an opportunity to make a difference in the communities they serve.

It also allows agencies to learn from one another and establish future goals in traffic safety enforcement and education.

Thomas said law enforcement agencies are graded in a number of traffic enforcement areas.

“The areas of concentrate includes the effects of enforcing laws in the areas of educating the public about occupancy protection, impaired driving and speeding,” Thomas said. “Departments submit an application, which documents their effects and effectiveness in these areas. The winning safety program are those that combine officer training, public information and enforcement, and reducing crashes and injuries within their jurisdiction.”

Traffic professionals from across the country judge the entrants and select the winners.