South Carolina Law Enforcement Agencies, Officers Recognized for DUI Enforcement Efforts in 2025

Media: Photos from the ceremony will be posted to the SC Department of Public Safety's online photo album. Please continue to check for updates.

COLUMBIA - The Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, a division of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, held its annual Highway Safety Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony today.

Law enforcement agencies who participate in the SC Law Enforcement Network from across the state were recognized for their achievements in statewide DUI enforcement, along with agencies that participated in the 2025 Law Enforcement Challenge (formerly known as the Target Zero Challenge).

Awards were presented to officers and agencies in multiple categories.

The following is a complete list of winners presented during the DUI Enforcement Recognition portion of the ceremony:

South Carolina Highway Patrol Troop of the Year:

SCHP Troop 4 (Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Lancaster, Union and York Counties)

State Transport Police Region of the Year:

STP Region 7 (DRIVE Team)

South Carolina Law Enforcement Network of the Year:

11th Circuit (Edgefield, Lexington, McCormick and Saluda Counties)

Agency of the Year (five categories based on the size of the agency):

1-10 officers: Timmonsville Police Department

11-25 officers: Folly Beach Department of Public Safety

26-50 officers: Clemson Police Department

51-100 officers: University of South Carolina Division of Law Enforcement and Safety

101 or more officers: Berkeley County Sheriff's Office

Officer of the Year (five categories based on the size of the agency):

1-10 officers: Officer Jared Teter, Wellford Police Department

11-25 officers: Officer Jeffrey Dense, Folly Beach Department of Public Safety

26-50 officers: Officer Natalie Thompson, Clemson University Police Department

51-100 officers: Public Safety Officer Doug Ruben, North Augusta Department of Public Safety

101 or more officers: Senior Patrol Officer Zachariah Azari, Charleston Police Department

Rookie of the Year:

Patrolman Anthony Knight, University of South Carolina Division of Law Enforcement and Safety

South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper of the Year:

Lance Corporal Jacob M. Ovino, SCHP Troop 3

Additionally, by random selection, the York Police Department won a 2026 Ford Explorer police interceptor for their efforts in 2025, which will be utilized for future DUI enforcement in their communities.

----

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.