On Thursday, August 24, and Friday, August 25, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) hosted its 30th Annual Lifesavers Conference and 13th Annual Law Enforcement Challenge in Murfreesboro. Every year, the THSO hosts these events to celebrate, educate, and empower our law enforcement partners and traffic safety advocates across the state. This year’s conference experienced record-breaking attendee numbers with more than 750 registrants.

2017 also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Tennessee’s highway safety office. To highlight this milestone in history, THSO Director Vic Donoho arranged many special guest appearances and presentations. Tennessee State University’s “Aristocrat of Bands” drumline kicked off the conference with a grand opening, and Country Music Icon Lee Greenwood performed the national anthem.

During the Director’s Awards Luncheon on August 24, the THSO invited former leadership and staff members to honor their efforts in shaping the highway safety office, including the THSO’s first director from 1967, Walter N. Lambert. A surprise historical video was debuted during the luncheon to highlight the THSO’s 50 years in highway safety.

Additionally, Commissioner David W. Purkey of the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security hosted a special presentation to honor the “Heroes of Cummins Falls,” individuals who went beyond the call of duty on July 5, 2017, to save kidnapping victims in Putnam County and floodwater victims at Cummins Falls State Park. Each recipient was awarded a special “Day of Recognition” certificate in honor of his lifesaving efforts. Those individuals are listed as follows.

• Lt. Brad Lund, Chief Pilot for Tennessee Highway Patrol

• Seasonal Interpretive Ranger Nathan Nelms, Cummins Falls State Park

• Lt. Aussie Thaxter, S.W.A.T. Team Leader/Bomb Squad Commander for Tennessee Highway Patrol

• Sgt. Denney Mitchell, S.W.A.T. Team Leader for Tennessee Highway Patrol

• Sgt. Michael Cummins, S.W.A.T. Team Leader for Tennessee Highway Patrol

• Chief Ranger Shane Petty, Tennessee State Parks

• Sheriff Eddie Farris, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office

• Captain Robert Terrell Johnson, Special Operations Commander for Tennessee Highway Patrol

On August 25, the THSO recognized 47 law enforcement partners during its 13th Annual Law Enforcement Challenge. This year, 56 Law Enforcement Challenge applications were submitted: 18 from West Tennessee, 15 from East Tennessee, 14 from Middle Tennessee, nine from the Cumberland Region, and one submission from each of the Tennessee Highway Patrol districts.

Bolivar Police Department was the winning agency to receive the 2017 Law Enforcement Challenge Vehicle, a fully outfitted Ford Interceptor SUV. All equipment was installed and configured by Mountain View Ford Emergency Vehicle Services in Chattanooga.

Unique for this year, Law Enforcement Administrator Brenda Jones distributed three grant funding awards to law enforcement agencies who participated in the THSO’s SAFE Campaign. The scope of the SAFE Campaign is to increase seatbelt usage with combined efforts of enforcement and education. All qualifying agencies participating in the SAFE Campaign with identifiable highway traffic safety issues were eligible to receive grant funding. Winners are listed as follows.

• 1st Place ($10,000 in grant award funding): Crossville Police Department

• 2nd Place ($7,500 in grant award finding): Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office

• 3rd Place ($5,000 in grant award funding): Lebanon Police Department

Click here to view the THSO historical video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkf47xV6i1g&feature=youtu.be

Click here for the Director’s Awards recipients: www.tnlifesaverschallenge.com/directors-awards-2017

Click here for the full list of Law Enforcement Challenge Award recipients: http://bit.ly/2wKfQYa

Click here to view all event photos: www.tnlifesaverschallenge.com/2017-photos

For more information about the 2017 Lifesavers Conference and Law Enforcement Challenge, please visit www.tnlifesaverschallenge.com.

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) is a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security advocating for traffic safety. The THSO works in tandem with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to implement statewide programs addressing occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and crash data collection and analysis. Programs administered by the THSO are 100 percent federally funded. The THSO’s mission is to effectively develop, implement, and evaluate these programs. To learn more, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.