2021 Award Winners

2021 Award Winners

National Awards | 2021

The Operation Dry Water Awards Program recognizes law enforcement officers and agencies that are making a positive impact on boating under the influence (BUI).

These law enforcement officers and agencies participate in the national Operation Dry Water (ODW) campaign and make a difference in recreational boating safety by raising awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence and by removing impaired operators from the nation’s waterways – protecting our nation and the communities they serve.

ODW Officer of the year - 2021

ODW Officer of the Year Award

Presented to Officer Josh Landrum of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).

Over the Operation Dry Water weekend, Officer Josh Landrum made eight arrests for boating under the influence. He worked each day of the 2021 Operation Dry Water weekend, logging more than 15 hours per day. Throughout the three-day weekend, Officer Landrum checked 77 vessels, contacted 122 boaters and issued 27 citations.

Prior to Operation Dry Water weekend, Officer Landrum had already arrested 11 operators for BUI since the end of May 2021.

Deputy Eric Blackard

ODW Top Agency Award - Small Category

Presented to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The 2021 Small Category Top Agency is awarded to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department from the state of California. Over the course of the three-day heightened enforcement weekend, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deployed three officers who made 17 boating under the influence arrests.

Sergeant Ryan Miller and Deputy Jonathan Traw

ODW Top Agency Award - Medium Category

Presented to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office.

The 2021 Medium Category Top Agency is presented to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office in the state of Idaho. During the three-day Operation Dry Water weekend, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office deployed 16 officers who made 11 boating under the influence arrests.

Lieutenant Darren Kuhn

ODW Top Agency Award - LARGE Category

Presented to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 

The 2021 Large Category Top Agency is awarded to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Over the course of the Operation Dry Water weekend, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources deployed 111 officers who made 43 arrests for boating under the influence.

Lt. Forrest Orr & Major Ben Meyer

ODW media award

Presented to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC).

Utilizing an integrated communications plan, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission promoted awareness of the Operation Dry Water campaign and made a difference in recreational boating safety by educating boaters and raising awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence. They contacted multiple television, radio, and news agencies to get the word out about this important initiative, and shared video and educational messages through the agency’s e-newsletter and social media platforms. At the statewide media event held at Lake Norman, representatives helped to answer the media’s questions and guided them to officers for interviews to help tell the story of law enforcement’s efforts. Members of this team documented every aspect of the NCWRC Law Enforcement Division’s role in their efforts during the ODW weekend.