2023 Award Winners

2023 Award Winners

National Awards | 2023

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 - 2023

ODW Officer of the Year Award

Presented to Corporal Jonathan Segars of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Law Enforcement Division.

Over the Operation Dry Water weekend, Corporal Segars made four arrests for boating under the influence.

During the 2023 Operation Dry Water weekend, Corporal Segars organized a saturation patrol on Lake Lanier. A total of 19 game wardens and sheriff’s deputies participated in the patrol. Corporal Segars worked 39.5 hours of boating safety patrol time during the three days of Operation Dry Water. He issued 21 citations, four warnings, contacted 93 boaters, and performed 31 vessel stops. Corporal Segars’ boating safety efforts extend well beyond Operation Dry Water. During the last year, he issued 94 boating related citations and had 60 boating safety related violation assists. Corporal Segars also made 10 boating under the influence arrests and had five boating under the influence assists. 

Lt. Kenton Turner

Regional Law Enforcement Award - Northern Region

Presented to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Law Enforcement Division, Conservation Officers.

The 2023 Northern Region Law Enforcement Award is presented to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Law Enforcement Division, Conservation Officers. Over the course of the three-day heightened enforcement weekend, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Law Enforcement Division deployed 105 officers who made 11 boating under the influence arrests. In addition to this, Indiana DNR engaged media outlets all over the state with a statewide press release covering the campaign. This generated media interviews and news stories to be carried on all major news outlets. 

Major Mark Dutton - North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Regional Law Enforcement Award - Southern Region

Presented to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission .

The 2023 Southern Region Law Enforcement Award goes to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. During the three-day Operation Dry Water weekend, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission deployed 161 officers who made 40 boating under the influence arrests. One of the Commission’s most notable efforts was their Operation Dry Water media kickoff event. This event brought several state and local agencies together to emphasize the importance of the Operation Dry Water campaign and its mission to reduce alcohol- and drug- related incidents on the water.

Deputy William Poe - San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Colorado River Station's Marine Enforcement Unit

Regional Law Enforcement Award - Western Region

Presented to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Colorado River Station's Marine Enforcement Unit. 

The 2023 Western Region Law Enforcement Award is presented to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Colorado River Station's Marine Enforcement Unit. Over the course of the Operation Dry Water weekend, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deployed six officers and made nine boating under the influence arrests. The Colorado River Station's Marine Enforcement Unit is dedicated to the detection and deterrence of boating under the influence during Operation Dry Water and throughout the boating season. Deputies realize every boat stop conducted is an opportunity to educate the public about boating safety and the importance of being sober while operating a vessel. 

Lisa Dugan - Minnesota DNR

ODW media award

Presented to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has participated in and promoted the messaging of Operation Dry Water annually through multifaceted media campaigns. This year, notably boosting a far-reaching media campaign and exciting new partnerships. The Boat and Water Safety program within the division of Enforcement hosted a media event with a new partnership. Local representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving were present to promote their mission, in conjunction with the Operation Dry Water messaging. The media event was a collaboration of state, federal and county law enforcement partners. A multimedia campaign was also launched at the end of June to start promoting the sober boating message of Operation Dry Water. This included a multi-language radio flight that ran in four different languages, gas station TV advertising which was displayed at 86 gas stations across the state, out of home advertising consisting of both static and digital ads at 27 bars and restaurants, and social media messaging.  

Awards Program

ODW Awards