Canton, Cherokee County, Ga. February 11, 2008- The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office was well represented at this year’s 8th Annual Appalachian Trail Traffic Enforcement Network (ATTEN) Banquet held February 8th in Blue Ridge Georgia. The Governor's Office of Highway Safety in cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies has organized regional Traffic Enforcement Networks around the State of Georgia. There are currently fifteen regional traffic enforcement networks servicing all 159 counties in Georgia. The regional networks are open to all sworn law enforcement officers and prosecutors and are designed to enhance traffic enforcement activities through networking, training and legislation. The networks serve as a catalyst for traffic enforcement officers to voice their concerns and share ideas with their counterparts from other agencies in their region. Counties that participate in the ATTEN network are Cherokee, Pickens, Gilmer, Fannin, Towns, Lumpkin, and Union.

The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office was awarded “Agency of the Year”. The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit was awarded “Reserve Unit of the Year”. The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office HEAT Unit was awarded the “Agency HEAT Unit D.U.I. Hero of the Year”. Sergeant William Thompson won “ATTEN Officer of the Year”. Deputy George Rose won “ATTEN HEAT Unit Rookie of the Year”. Deputy Philip Lunsford won “ATTEN Officer D.U.I. Hero of the Year”.