The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety on Thursday honored the efforts to reduce crashes and save lives in four regional traffic enforcement networks in North Georgia.
The Northeast Traffic Enforcement Network (NETEN) awards included the following:
Sergeant Phillip Young of the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office HEAT (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) Unit received the 2025 Todd Helcher Impaired Driving Enforcement Award for driving under the influence arrests.
That award is named for former Habersham County deputy sheriff and Clarkesville resident Todd Helcher, who was killed July 25, 2005, in a car collision on Ga. 365 while on his way home from work as a sergeant at Braselton Police Department. He was the father of current Habersham County Sheriff’s Office K9 Deputy Holden Helcher, who presented the award.
The 2025 NETEN Speed Award was presented to Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Charles Brantley of the agency’s HEAT Unit.
Other awards presented to personnel and agencies within NETEN include:
- The 2025 NETEN Cruz Thomas DUI Award presented to Sergeant Kris Hall of Commerce Police Department for DUI arrests.
- The 2025 NETEN Occupant Protection Award presented to Hall County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Major Paterson.
- The 2025 NETEN Distracted Driving Award presented to Deputy Daniel Meeks of Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
- The 2025 NETEN Officer of the Year presented to Officer Justin Simmons of Braselton Police Department
- The 2025 NETEN Agency of the Year presented to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
The 2025 “Quad Awards” ceremony was held Thursday, November 20, in Gainesville and also included awards to personnel and agencies in the Appalachian Trail Network, the Piedmont Area Network, and the Mountain Area Network.
The goal of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is to reduce the incidents of impaired driving, speeding, and driving without a properly buckled safety belt. Learn more about GOHS at www.gahighwaysafety.org.
