Local police officers were awarded by Mothers Against Drunk Driving on Thursday at a ceremony in Atlanta, one of them for being the top drugged-driving-recognition expert in the state for 2014.
Garden City police Sgt. Shawn Myers received that honor at the Golden Shield Honor Awards ceremony.
As a drug recognition expert, Myers and other such officers are certified by the state to identify motorists who are driving impaired on drugs other than just alcohol, including illegal and prescription medication.
“Agency size didn’t matter,” said Garden City police Lt. Tim McMillan. “He was up against people from the Atlanta police department, Gwinnett County police department — large agencies.”
The process for certification can take more than a year to complete, said Garden City police Lt. Tim McMillan.
McMillan said Thursday was the third time in four years Myers received a top individual award for contributions to DUI enforcement.
Myers wasn’t the only local officer awarded by MADD on Thursday.
Effingham County sheriff’s deputy Mike Kendricks received a Silver Pin and Garden City police officer David Dess received the Bronze Pin award based on DUI arrests last year. According to information on MADD’s Georgia website, the bronze category is for officers who make 25-49 DUI arrests and silver is for officers who make 50-99 arrests.
The banquet is held annually and attended by police from agencies around the state.
“When you go there, you really see the impact of what DUI enforcement does as a whole,” McMillan said. “... You hear from people who have had family members killed by drunk drivers.”