22nd Annual Golden Shield Honors

  • 22nd Annual Golden Shield Honors

    The 22nd Annual Golden Shield Honors recognizes law enforcement officers, agencies, DUI prosecutors, and community advocates who are making a meaningful impact across Georgia. For the past 22 years, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has partnered with MADD Georgia to honor the professionals dedicated to keeping our highways and communities safe. These individuals show up every day with commitment and courage — investigating crashes, building strong cases, standing firm in court, and working alongside community partners to protect lives.Their leadership directly advances our mission to end drunk driving, support victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking. Through strong partnerships and shared accountability, we continue moving closer to safer roads for every family in Georgia.

  • Award Categories

    Nominations for the 22nd Annual Golden Shield Honor Awards are now open to recognize those who demonstrated excellence across Georgia in 2025. Apply online at www.madd.org/GoldenShield by Friday, May 1st, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. To address concerns about accurate DUI reporting, supervisor confirmation is required for all nominations. Upon submission, a separate email will be sent to the supervisor to verify the number of DUI arrests. Nominations will only be complete once this verification is received. Nominees are encouraged to follow up with their supervisors to ensure the confirmation step is completed. If no response is received, please verify the supervisor's email address and check spam or junk folders.

  • Golden Shield Honors Event Announcement

    We are proud to announce the 22nd Annual Golden Shield Honors, taking place on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Edgar H. Wilson Convention Center in Macon, Georgia.

    This distinguished event recognizes exceptional law enforcement officers, agencies, DUI prosecutors, and community advocates whose dedication and leadership strengthen public safety across our state.

    Before the awards ceremony, attendees will participate in the Impaired Driving Enforcement Forum, a focused professional development session designed to enhance enforcement strategies, prosecution efforts, and collaborative approaches to combating impaired driving. The forum provides timely updates, practical tools, and meaningful dialogue that support stronger case outcomes and safer communities.

    We are deeply grateful for the continued partnership and support of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, whose commitment makes this event possible.

    Please save the date and stay tuned for additional details as we prepare to honor excellence and advance the mission of ending impaired driving in Georgia.

  • Questions:

    Please contact us at the MADD Georgia State Office with any questions at 770-615-3737 ext 7355 or via email at Lisa.Sampson@madd.org

  • DUI Achievement Certificate

    MADD Georgia DUI Achievement: Awarded to qualified officers who have made DUI arrests in the past year. Awards are as follows: CERTIFICATE: less than 25 DUI arrests, BRONZE: 25-49 DUI arrests, SILVER: 50-99 DUI arrests, GOLD: 100-149 DUI arrests, RED: 150+ DUI arrests. No letter of support necessary. **Supervisor confirmation of the number of DUI arrests required. **

  • DRE Achievement Certificate

    MADD Georgia DRE Achievement: Awarded to qualified Drug Recognition Experts who have completed more than 15 evaluations in the past year. Awards are as follows: RED: 15-24 evaluations, WHITE: 25-49 evaluations, BLUE: 50-99 evaluations, GOLD: 100+ evaluations. Nominations for this award are accepted through DRE State Coordinator. No letter of support necessary.

  • DUI Hero

    DUI HERO: Awarded to officer with highest total of DUI arrests in each agency category. No letter of support necessary. First, second, and third place will be awarded. **Supervisor confirmation of the number of DUI arrests required.

  • Officer of the Year

    Statewide Officer of the Year: Awarded to a state trooper, officer or deputy in good standing with their agency who has excelled in many areas, which might include but are not limited to, DUI arrest, traffic safety, DUI victim services, underage drinking prevention programs, work ethic, etc. Letter of support required (limit 500 words) outlining why the nominee should receive this award detailing specific examples and statistics of how the officer has excelled beyond the call of duty.

  • Rookie of the Year

    Statewide Rookie of the Year: Awarded to a state trooper, officer, or deputy in good standing with their agency with less than one year of service who has excelled in many areas, which might include but are not limited to, DUI arrest, traffic safety, DUI victim services, underage drinking prevention programs, work ethic, etc. Letter of support required (limit 500 words) outlining why the nominee should receive this award, detailing specific examples and statistics of how the officer has excelled beyond the call of duty.

  • K-9 Officer of the Year

    Statewide K-9 Officer of the Year: Awarded to a K9 officer in good standing with their agency who has excelled in many areas, which might include but are not limited to, use of service dogs to assist in DUI arrest, traffic safety, DUI victim services, underage drinking prevention programs, work ethic, etc. Letter of support required (limit 500 words) outlining why the nominee should receive this award, detailing specific examples and statistics of how the officer has excelled beyond the call of duty.

  • AGENCY CATEGORIES

    Category 1: 1-10 Officers Category 2: 11-25 Officers Category 3: 26-50 Officers Category 4: 51-100 Officers Category 5:101-250 Officers Category 6: 251+ Officers Category 7: Georgia State Patrol Post

  • Agency DUI HERO

    Agency DUI HERO: Awarded to the agency with highest total of DUI arrests in each agency category. No letter of support necessary. First, second, and third place will be awarded.

  • Agency of the Year

    Statewide Agency of the Year: Awarded to a Law Enforcement Agency that has demonstrated excellence in implementing innovative techniques in the detection and deterrence of traffic violations, DUI, and underage drinking prevention. Letter of support required (limit 500 words) outlining why this agency should receive this award, including any supporting statistics.

  • Post of the Year

    Statewide Post of the Year: Awarded to a Georgia State Patrol Post that has demonstrated excellence in implementing innovative techniques in the detection and deterrence of traffic violations, DUI, and underage drinking prevention. Letter of support required (limit 500 words) outlining why this post should receive this award.

  • H.E.A.T. Unit/ DUI Task Force of the Year

    H.E.A.T. Unit/ DUI Task Force of the Year: Awarded to a H.E.A.T. unit that has demonstrated excellence in education and enforcement of drunk driving and aggressive traffic and has been successful in reducing the number of crashes, fatalities, and injuries on our highways, and has excelled in many areas, which might include but are not limited to, DUI arrest, deterrence of traffic violations, and underage drinking prevention. Letter of support required (limit 500 words) outlining why this agency should receive this award.

  • Georgia Traffic Enforcement Network

    Georgia Traffic Enforcement Network Award: Awarded to a Georgia Traffic Enforcement Network that has demonstrated excellence in implementing innovative techniques in the detection and deterrence of DUI, and underage drinking prevention, has had high attendance at network meetings, high percentage reporting, number of sobriety checkpoints implemented, participation in statewide collaborations such as Hands Across the Border. Letter of support required (limit 500 words) outlining why your network should receive this award.

  • Prosecutor of the Year

    Prosecutor of the Year: Awarded to a courageous prosecuting attorney who has shown excellence in DUI prosecution and assisting law enforcement in the courtroom. Letter of support required (limit 500 words).

  • Golden Achievement Award

    Awarded to a citizen, officer, agency, group or organization with outstanding expertise in the field of traffic safety, DUI prevention, and/or community intervention who made a significant contribution to MADD’s mission and Georgia traffic safety in 2025. Letter of support required (limit 500 words).

  • Nomination Form

  • Nominee Information:

    Please use nominee's given name. This will help ensure that the nominee gets credit for all of thenominations coming in for him/her per category should they be nominated by more than one person, all information will be put in the judging packet. 
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