FRANKFORT, KY – On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, nearly 200 state and local law enforcement officers were honored for extraordinary efforts to protect motorists from impaired drivers as part of Team Kentucky’s continuing commitment to save lives on Kentucky roadways.
The Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Awards, held at the Campbell House in Lexington and hosted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Office of Highway Safety included awards to individuals representing more than 180 law enforcement agencies.
“Every impaired driving crash is 100% preventable, and the work of Kentucky’s law enforcement officers to stop those who make the dangerous and deadly decision to drive impaired is invaluable,” said Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Regional Executive Director (former National President) Alex Otte. “These officers are not just saving lives and preventing injuries – they are reminding those who have been impacted that we aren’t fighting alone.”
Awards were presented to those with the most impaired driving arrests in each agency and in each division from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024. Award recipients received a plaque, while the top division winner was presented with the Highway Safety All-Star Award – a commemorative baseball bat from Louisville Slugger. There are six divisions, broken down by number of officers within the agency, and a division for Kentucky State Police:
- Division I 1-10 officers
- Division II 11-25 officers
- Division III 26-50 officers
- Division IV 51-100 officers
- Division V 100+ officers
- Division VI Kentucky State Police
According to the KOHS, last year in Kentucky there were 4,324 total crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in 2,085 injuries and 181 deaths.
“Impaired driving has caused unimaginable pain for too many families,” said KOHS Executive Director Bill Bell. “This holiday season, we’re committed to helping law enforcement crack down on this preventable crime by providing federal funding for enhanced enforcement efforts.”
The KOHS, Kentucky State Police and local law enforcement agencies are partnering for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday enforcement campaign. Officers will be out Dec. 11, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025, watching for any moving hazardous violation, with an emphasis on impaired driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds the campaign and reports high-visibility enforcement reduces impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20%.
A list of recipients for the 2024 Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Awards can be found here.
