Nashville, Tennessee --- Twenty-six Tennessee law enforcement agencies were presented state and national awards today by the Governor's Highway Safety Office (GHSO) during Tennessee 's inaugural Law Enforcement Challenge awards ceremony held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center .

The Law Enforcement Challenge is a competition designed to recognize and reward the best overall traffic safety programs across the state and across the country as judged by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Similar sizes and types of agencies were judged on local efforts to enforce laws and educate the public about occupant protection, impaired driving and speeding. The winning safety programs combined officer training, public information and enforcement to reduce crashes and injuries within their jurisdictions.

Thirty-three awards were presented honoring the "best of the best" traffic safety programs in the state (see attached list). Nationally, Tennessee agencies earned seven top honors which is unprecedented for a state's first entry in to the IACP competition. The nation's top award was presented to the Mt. Carmel Police Department recognized as having the most comprehensive traffic safety program in the county. All agencies regardless of type or size were considered for this award.

"The National Law Enforcement Challenge is a mechanism that challenges law enforcement agencies to set comprehensive goals, strive to reach new heights, and share their experiences," said GHSO Director Chuck Taylor. "The competition has no losers - only winners, for working to save lives and reduce the frequency and severity of injuries on our nation's highways."

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.