The Clemson University Police Department (CUPD) has received the Gold Level award for the 2025 Law Enforcement Challenge, conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Network (SCLEN). The South Carolina Department of Public Safety made the announcement on Dec. 2, honoring a total of 61 law enforcement agencies with gold, silver or bronze-level awards.
“This award is a testament to the department’s continuous efforts around roadway safety and education, through directed patrols, checkpoints and general daily traffic safety initiatives,” said Interim CUPD Chief Christopher Harrington. “Receiving the Gold award is a special recognition of these efforts and the impacts they make, not only in our community but towards the broader traffic safety goals across the state.”
CUPD regularly conducts a variety of proactive enforcement activities throughout the year, including multiple safety checkpoints and saturation efforts, reinforcing the department’s commitment to roadway safety and impaired-driving prevention. CUPD also conducts education and public information campaigns on key driving safety topics during the year, including the 100 Deadly Days of Summer.
In addition, CUPD actively participates in statewide enforcement campaigns, including MADD’s Saturation Saturday campaign. CUPD officers also participated in a multi-state Hands Across the Border enforcement checkpoint in August. All of these activities contribute to earning an award from the Law Enforcement Challenge.
The challenge also requires representatives from participating departments to attend monthly SCLEN meetings and report traffic enforcement data. A CUPD representative attended every meeting during the 2025 challenge period, which ran from Dec. 1, 2024 through Labor Day 2025.
“The Clemson University Police Department takes great pride in its traffic safety efforts and is honored to participate in the SCLEN Challenge each year,” said Sgt. Matthew Prisco, who serves as CUPD’s SCLEN liaison and coordinator for the Law Enforcement Challenge annually. “The safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors remains a top priority for the University and an ongoing commitment for our department.”
CUPD claims the Gold award for the fourth time overall, the last coming in 2022, with Silver and Bronze awards in between. The award continues a trend for the department, as CUPD received its third straight Agency of the Year award for DUI Enforcement efforts earlier this year and was the 13th Circuit Alcohol Enforcement Team (AET) Agency of the Year for Pickens County in 2024.
The department was one of two higher education law enforcement agencies to receive the Gold award this year, alongside the University of South Carolina Division of Law Enforcement and Safety. CUPD was also one of two departments to reach the Gold level in Pickens County, joining the Easley Police Department.
