SCDPS Ceremony Recognizes Achievements in DUI Enforcement and Target Zero Challenge participation in 2023

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2024
Contact: Rachel Urconis, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, 803-896-9402 Media:  Photos from the ceremony will be posted to the SC Department of Public Safety’s online photo album and the SCDPS Facebook page later this afternoon, June 20, 2024. Please continue to check for updates. 

COLUMBIA — The South Carolina Department of Public Safety held its annual DUI Enforcement Recognition and Target Zero Challenge ceremony today in Columbia. NASCAR driver Ross Chastain provided special remarks.

This event recognizes law enforcement personnel and agencies for their excellence in statewide DUI enforcement, along with agencies that participated in the 2023 Target Zero Challenge.

Awards were presented to officers and agencies in several categories during the DUI Recognition portion of the ceremony.

The following is a complete list of winners:

South Carolina Highway Patrol Troop of the Year: 

SCHP Troop 4 (Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Lancaster, Union, and York counties)

State Transport Police Region of the Year: 

STP Region 7 DRIVE Team

South Carolina Law Enforcement Network of the Year: 

9th Circuit (Berkeley and Charleston Counties)

Agency of the Year (five categories based on the size of the agency):

1-10 officers: Atlantic Beach Police Department

11-25 officers: Tega Cay Police Department

26-50 officers: Clemson University Police Department

51-100 officers: North Augusta Department of Public Safety

101 or more officers: Mount Pleasant Police Department

 Officer of the Year (five categories based on the size of the agency):

1-10 officers: Sergeant Phillip Torrey, Wellford City Police Department

11-25 officers: Sergeant Joshua Bowling, Tega Cay Police Department

26-50 officers: Corporal Jessica Dellinger, Hartsville Police Department

51-100 officers: Public Safety Officer Doug Ruben, North Augusta Department of Public Safety

101 or more officers: Officer Zachariah Azari, Charleston Police Department

Rookie of the Year: 

Patrolman First Class Preston Barrett, Fort Mill Police Department

South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper of the Year: 

Senior Trooper Trent Colley, Troop 4, Post A

Additionally, the Target Zero Challenge portion of the ceremony recognized agencies from around the state that participated in the challenge. The Laurens Police Department and the Mount Pleasant Police Department won a 2023 Dodge Durango police interceptor for their efforts in 2023 and will be utilized for future DUI enforcement in their communities.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.