Six FHP troopers recognized for makikng 100 or more DUI arrests during 2022
Tallahassee, Florida – Driving while impaired – whether under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both – is dangerous and illegal and puts everyone in danger.
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper Scott Mills, who works for Troop G in the Jacksonville, Florida area, takes the responsibility of getting impaired drivers off Florida’s roadways very seriously. So seriously in fact, that at the FHP's recent 7th annual Hurd-Smith Awards Banquet, Trooper Mills was awarded the 2022 Hurd-Smith Award that recognizes the trooper who makes the highest number of arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) arrests during the previous year.
The Hurd-Smith Award is named after FHP Troopers Kimberly A. Hurd and Robert G. Smith, who both died in DUI tragedies. A drunk driver killed Trooper Hurd on July 16, 1992, and a drunk driver killed Trooper Smith on July 26, 1997.
“It’s an absolute true honor and a huge accomplishment to get the Hurd-Smith,” said Trooper Mills, whose 12-hour work shift falls during the dark hours of the night. “You’re going against everyone else in the state, thousands of troopers out there on the roadways. To be in the DUI 100 club and do it for the second year in a row, it’s a true reflection of the hours and dedication spent on enforcement.”
With 181 DUI arrests in 2022, Trooper Mills headlined a group of six state troopers – known as the DUI 100 – who cited 100 or more DUI arrests. In addition to Mills, those who reached the milestone mark were Trooper Kenneth Montgomery with 135 DUI arrests, Trooper Taylor Ledford with 135, Trooper Jordan Capela with 119, Trooper Joseph Farley with 102, and Trooper Garrett Earlywine with 100. This is the first time Mills has earned the Hurd-Smith Award. Montgomery and Farley have both taken it home twice, and Ledford received it once.
Mills found his win ironic, having given a fallen trooper presentation on Trooper Hurd while a recruit at the FHP Training Academy. “I had to do a lot of research, said Trooper Mills, "Find articles and get into her background and career. She was ‘The Queen of DUIs’ for the Highway Patrol,” Trooper Mills said. To turn around and win the Hurd-Smith, it’s not just an honor to me, I feel it’s a reflection and tribute to her and Mr. Smith as well, to carry on their legacy, continue doing the enforcement, removing impaired drivers off the roadway. It was touching, it was emotional, and it was an honor.”
Mills has gotten 2023 off to a good start, arresting three for DUI on a recent Tuesday night. “The public might believe that Friday night and weekend nights are your popular DUI nights," said Trooper Mills, "But what we have noticed through enforcement and statistics, is that impaired drivers, who are affecting people’s safety - they’re out every day of the week. We certainly hit it hard on weekends, holidays, and special events. There are a lot of people out consuming alcoholic beverages who don’t plan for a safe ride home. But every night, every day, every time of the year, impaired drivers are on the roadway, and we dedicate ourselves to finding them.”
March is FLHSMV’s Impaired Driving Awareness Month, and the Florida Highway Patrol is reminding all motorists that driving impaired has real consequences. There were 568 impaired-driving crashes and 3,013 DUI arrests in March 2022. Law enforcement monitor Florida’s roadways to keep everyone safe, but it’s every driver’s responsibility to do their part and not get behind the wheel while impaired. For more information and data analysis, visit FL-DHSMV’s Impaired Driving webpage here: www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/impaired-driving
“We can’t tell the future, but every single impaired person we take off the roadway, we may have saved their life, we may have saved a passenger’s life, we may have saved a bicyclist or pedestrian or other innocent victim’s life,” Trooper Mills said. “Every time we get an impaired driver off the roadway, we immediately view that as one life saved, if not more.”