South Carolina Law Enforcement Agencies, Officers Recognized for DUI Enforcement Efforts in 2024

For Immediate Release 
April 2, 2025 
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. Please continue to check for updates. 

 COLUMBIA — The Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, a division of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, held its annual Highway Safety Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony today.

 Law enforcement agencies who participate in the SC Law Enforcement Network from across the state were recognized for their achievements in statewide DUI enforcement, along with agencies that participated in the 2024 Law Enforcement Challenge (formerly known as the Target Zero Challenge).

Awards were presented to officers and agencies in multiple categories. 

The following is a complete list of winners presented during the DUI Enforcement Recognition portion of the ceremony: 

South Carolina Highway Patrol Troop of the Year: 

SCHP Troop 5 (Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg counties)

State Transport Police Region of the Year: 

STP Region 7 (DRIVE Team)

South Carolina Law Enforcement Network of the Year:

13th Circuit (Greenville and Pickens Counties)

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

1-10 officers: Pageland Police Department

11-25 officers: Port Royal Police Department

26-50 officers: Clemson University Police Department

51-100 officers: North Myrtle Beach Police Department

101 or more officers: Charleston Police Department

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

1-10 officers: First Sergeant Kyle Plattenburg, Pageland Police Department

11-25 officers: Patrolman First Class Russell Simmons, Port Royal Police Department

26-50 officers: Officer Austin Jones, Clover Police Department

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

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

Rookie of the Year: 

Officer Natalie Thompson, Clemson University Police Department (not pictured, received by a colleague)

South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper of the Year: 

Lance Corporal Michael Burgess, SCHP Troop 7

By random selection, the Hartsville Police Department and the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office won a 2024 Dodge Durango police interceptor for their efforts in 2024, which 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.