It was a time to honor those who put their lives on the line each day. Law enforcement officers from across the Griffin Judicial Circuit were some of the 500 attending the District Attorney’s 3rd Annual Law Enforcement Banquet held last week at Fayetteville First Baptist Church.

As is customary, District Attorney Scott Ballard served as master of ceremonies. Near the beginning of the banquet Secretary of State Karen Handel offered her thoughts on the role of peace officers and the duty they fulfill.

“Those of you who put your life on the line, ‘thank you’ pales compared to what you do every day. We rely on you,” Handel said, then adding a word to the spouses of those in law enforcement. “You, too, sacrifice a great deal as your spouse walks out the door every day to do their job.”

Once Handel’s brief words were complete, the proceedings turned to the recognition of the police chiefs, sheriffs, support staff and law enforcement officers in attendance. But it was the presentation of awards that were the order of the evening.

The award for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year went to Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Trooper Daniel Smith. Assigned to the Newnan Post and often working cases in the Griffin Circuit, Smith during 2008 made 109 DUI arrests.

That number was the fourth highest DUI arrest total of all GSP officers and was the highest total for a field trooper not assigned primarily to DUI enforcement.

Other finalists for Officer of the Year included Tyrone Police Det. Adam Castings, Fayetteville Police Officer Todd Chitwood, Griffin Police Cpl. Daniel Jett, Griffin Officer Jonathan McGehee and Fayetteville Police Det. Melissa Peacock.

The award for overcoming adversity went to Fayette County Detention Officer Harold Kennedy.

Local officers receiving awards for Community Service included Fayetteville Police Det. Debbie Chambers and Det. Scott Israel and Fayette County Sheriff’s Det. Josh Shelton. Rookie of the Year went to Peachtree City Police Cpl. James Beato. Agency of the Year honors went to Spalding County Sheriff’s Office. And the Robert W. Groninger Scholarship recipient was Spalding County High School student Jordan Proctor.

The essay winner of the annual Law Enforcement Essay Booklet contest was Tyrone Elementary School’s Carlye Jones, who said, “No one is guaranteed another day or even another breath. In the blink of an eye you or your loved one could be gone. But I thank and love the wonderful people in law enforcement who know that and every day they still risk their lives to save yours.”

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