Director of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Harris Blackwood, left, front, presents Tift County Sheriff’s Sgt. James Partain with a proclamation from the Georgia General Assembly honoring the Tift County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies from the TCSO present, back, from left, were James Lindsey, Chris Spires, Chris Strickland, Brian Sumner, Shane Daughtrey and Mike Purvis. The two awards in the front are the ones the TCSO received for their work in traffic safety.

Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, visited Tuesday to honor the Tift County Sheriff’s Office for its work in traffic safety.

The office was cited for placing first in the International Association of Chiefs of Police National Law Enforcement Challenge. The group also took second in the Georgia Governor’s Challenge.

Besides those accolades, Blackwood also brought a surprise as he presented Sgt. James Partain with a resolution from the General Assembly honoring the Tift Sheriff’s Office for the recognition.

“The Tift County Sheriff’s Office is among the best in the nation,” said Blackwood.

“I was here about a year ago to present the Governor’s Cup to the office, and (Tift County) Sheriff (Gary) Vowell said I would be back, and I am.”

Blackwood added, “This is a great honor for Tift County, and it speaks volumes about these officers.”

Noting that Tift County is at a “crossroads” with Interstate 75 intersecting with U.S. 82, Blackwood said, “Residents of Tift County are very fortunate to have this level of law enforcement.”

Speaking for the deputies present, Partain said, “We really appreciate (the honor). It is a privilege to be recognized for our work. We take pride in everything we do.”

Partain said there has been a “100 percent reduction in alcohol and speed-related fatalities over the past three years” in Tift County, emphasizing the work of the deputies.

“This is a good group of guys that work hard every day,” he said.

Partain also noted the group’s work goes beyond traffic stops as they speak to clubs, social groups and churches. The sheriff’s office also helps parents learn the proper ways to install child restraints.

Blackwood said the entire state of Georgia is working hard to prevent traffic deaths. Noting the numbers were not available until late last year, Blackwood said 2010 saw the lowest number of traffic fatalities in the state since records began being kept in 1949.

“Preliminary indications are we should have an even lower number in 2011,” Blackwood said.

Evaluation for the awards came from the number of DUI contacts and factors such as child safety restraints. Blackwood said more than 100 Georgia agencies were involved as a preliminary to the national challenge.