For the second year in a row, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has been named the top overall law enforcement agency in its category by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The announcement was made Friday during the 12th Annual Governor’s Challenge Awards in Macon.

An annual recognition program for law enforcement agencies across the state, the program features recognition in seven different categories based on department size, as well as other specialty areas.

In addition to winning top agency for its size, 251-500 officers, the local sheriff’s office also took the top awards in the underage alcohol and motorcycle safety categories.

Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, congratulated Sheriff Ted Paxton for “commanding such a hard-working group of law enforcement officers.”

“This award is indicative of their dedication to keeping their communities safe and free from dangerous drivers,” Blackwood said in a statement.

The annual awards recognize law enforcement agencies for the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs.

They’re evaluated on initiatives, as well as problem-solving, public information activities and departmental policies that support their efforts.

In other awards Friday, Georgia State Patrol Troop B, which patrols much of northeast Georgia, won second place in the state patrol category.

Troop B includes Cumming-based Post 37, which handles Forsyth, Dawson and Lumpkin counties.

Ricky Rich, law enforcement services director for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, noted that the agencies honored Friday “have gone the extra mile not only in their enforcement activities, but the professionalism in their work.”

“We look forward to recognizing them every year for their efforts to keep our local roads and state highways as safe as possible,” Rich said.