Indiana Criminal Justice Institute honored Pendleton Police officers Shane Briggs (left) and Jerry Branson as Traffic Safety All-Stars for their efforts combating drunk driving.

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PPD officer Jerry Branson was among the Traffic Safety All-Stars’ Top 25 Officers, who accounted for more than 2,000 drunk driving arrests in 2023. A helmet signed by former Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri was part of the award.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) honored two Pendleton police officers for their efforts to combat drunk driving during an event at Lucas Oil Stadium recently.
ICJI, the state’s planning agency for criminal justice, juvenile justice, traffic safety and victim services, named PPD officers Jerry Branson and Shane Briggs as Traffic Safety All-Stars for the number of operating while intoxicated (OWI) arrests they made in 2023.
Branson made 59 such arrests, and Briggs tallied 27.
“I continue to be very proud of the job done by the Officers of the Pendleton Police Department, and this is the second year that Officer Branson has represented us,” PPD Chief Marc Farrer said in an email to The Times-Post.
Branson also received special recognition for being in the state’s Top 25 Officers; the group combined account for more than 2,000 — roughly 20% — of OWI arrests in the state last year.
ICJI develops long-range strategies for the effective administration of Indiana’s criminal and juvenile justice systems and administers state and federal funds to carry out these strategies, the institute states on its website.
The institute created the Traffic Safety All-Star awards program “as a way to recognize law enforcement officers who are going above and beyond to keep road users and their communities safe by working to combat impaired driving.
“To be named a Traffic Safety All-Star, the officer must have made at least 20 OWI arrests during the previous year and participated in one of the state’s targeted enforcement campaigns, like Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
The ceremony took place Sept. 19 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Former Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri was the keynote speaker.
“Whether it’s marijuana, alcohol, prescription drugs or illegal drugs, a driver should make the choice to not get behind the wheel,” Farrer said. “Between cell phone connections to sober friends, Uber drivers and taxis, there is no reason that a person should chance their safety, and other persons on the road safety, by driving under the influence.
“I can assure you
that Pendleton officers are working hard to make our roads safer, and we ask you to help us by making the decision to not drive impaired.”