Annual report FY 2002

Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training
Council
MISSION
It is the mission of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) to provide the citizens of Georgia with qualified, professionally trained, ethical and competent peace officer and criminal justice professionals. The Georgia P.0.S.T. Council administers the regulatory process, sets the standards for training and certification, and provides essential technical assistance to the law enforcement community. The GeorgiaP.O.S.T. Council provides the highest degree ofexcellence in public safety service and eliminates unqualified individuals from the law enforcement profession.
5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road Suite 261
Austell, Georgia 30106

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GEORGIA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL

5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Suite 261

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Austell, Georgia 30106

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MIKE BARTON Executive Director

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Telephone: (770) 732-5974 Fax: (770) 732-5952

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The Honorable Roy Barnes, Governor

Members of the General Assembly

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State of Georgia Atlanta, Georgia

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Dear Governor Barnes:

In accordance with state law, the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council

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submits this annual report which summarizes activities and accomplishments for the fiscal year

ending June 30, 2002.

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The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council is working diligently with the

Georgia Chiefs, Sheriffs, Georgia Public Safety Training Center and other agencies to ensure

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that only the most qualified and best trained officers are allowed to serve the citizens ofthis great state.

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The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council is recognized as a leader in

many areas of the peace officer training and certification process. We have strived to raise the

bar in law enforcement with many new duties and responsibilities without additional personnel

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or funds. In fact, POST relocated their headquarters as a means ofreducing cost. This move has

reduced our rent by half while providing the officers and citizens of Georgia with convenient

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access to a newly renovated facility.

The Council and I look to the last year with a sense of pride and accomplishment. We

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look to the future with excitement, knowing that there are many goals yet to be realized.

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Respectfully yours,

J ~u_,/ ~ct-t't~ Mike Barton

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Executive Director

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Georgia P.O.S.T. Council

The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S .T.) was created by the
J Georgia General Assembly in 1970 to administer minimum employment and training standards for
the peace officer population in the State of Georgia.

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The P.O.S.T. Council consists of nineteen voting members and is supported by an advisory

board. The voting members include:
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A member other than the Attorney General.

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Joseph E. Stiles, III, Executive Director - Police Benevolent Association

1 The President of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police or designee

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Chief Charles F. Simons, III - Valdosta Police Department

The President of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association or designee
] Sheriff J. Tyson Stephens - Emanuel County Sheriffs Office Vice-Chairman

1 The President of the Georgia Municipal Association or designee

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Mr. Ken Vance - City of Milledgeville

] The President of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia or designee

Honorable Walker T. Norman - Lincoln County (Designee)

The President of the Peace Officers Association of Georgia or designee

Major W.W. (Bill) Hitchens - Georgia State Patrol (retired)

The Chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles or designee

Board Member Garfield Hammonds (Designee)
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The Director of Investigation of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation or designee

Director Milton E. Nix

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] The Commissioner of Corrections or designee

Director Alan Adams (Designee)
1 The President of the Georgia Prison Wardens' Association

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Warden Marshall Camp

] The Commissioner of Public Safety or designee

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Commissioner Robert Hightower

A chief of police

] Chief William Kicklighter - Dougherty County Police Department - Chairman

] A county sheriff

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Sheriff Neal Walden - White County Sheriffs Office - Secretary

Two municipal police officers other than a chief of police
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S.P.O. Dolly A. Johnson - Atlanta Police Department

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Lt. Hosea Miller - Albany Police Department

A city manager or mayor
] Mayor John N. Fluker, Sr. - City of Waycross

] A county commissioner

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Commissioner Karen Elaine Webster - Fulton County

] Two members who are peace officers

Sheriff Kenny Webb - Laurens County Sheriffs Office

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Chief James Chadwick - Dalton Police Department -

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GEORGIA POST COUNCIL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS 2002

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The advisory members are appointed by Council to serve in an advisory capacity and

represent a cross section of the criminal justice system.
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Campus Police

Legislative

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Chief Ken Brown

Georgia Southern University

Honorable Rooney Bowen, Chairman Senate Public Safety Committee

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Department of Community Affairs

Honorable Mike Snow, Chairman

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Mr. Tony McClung

Georgia Department of Community

House Public Safety Committee Randy Clayton

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Affairs

Criminal Justice Improvement Council

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Department of Juvenile Justice

Mr. Ronnie Lane

Sheriff

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Department of Juvenile Justice

Sheriff Wayne Bennett Glynn County Sheriffs Office

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County Police

Sheriff Bill Massee

Chief Carl Alexander

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Glynn County Police Department

Baldwin County Sheriffs Office Academician

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Association Directors

Dr. William Megathlin

Frank V. Rotondo, Director

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Georgia Association of Chiefs of

Police

Armstrong State College Dr. David Camp

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Mr. Terry Norris, Chief of Staff

Georgia State University

Georgia Sheriffs' Association
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State Officers

Municipal Police

Commander Cliff Tackett

Chief Clarence E. "Butch" Chan

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Department of Motor Vehicle Safety

Pooler Police Department

Colonel George Ellis

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Georgia State Patrol

Public Safety Dispatcher

Ms. Carolyn Hunter

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Mr. David Saye

Georgia Public Safety Training

Rockdale Emergency Operations Center

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Center

Georgia Public Safety Training

Lt. Colonel Bob Brown

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Georgia Department of Natural

Center

Resources

Mr. John Gamer, Director

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Marshal

General Instruction Division

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Marshal Steve Smith

GPAC

Richmond County Marshal's Office

Major Elaine Snow

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Rome Police Department

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P.O.S.T. Council Organizational Chart

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GeorgiaPeace Officer

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Standards and Training Council

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NeeNahYarbrough

MikeBarton

Administrative Assistant
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Executive Director

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Bradley Pope

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Director of
Investigations

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- Denise Hudson
In vesti gation s Assistant

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stevenBarnhart
.... District 1
Investigator
WillieEvans
-- District 2 Investigator
BonnieBargeron
- District 3 Investigator
JulieLewandowski
- District 4 Investigator
Carl Ellis
- District 5
Investigator
Mickey Goins
.... District 6
Investigator
LeevanKirk
-- District 7
Investigator

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RyanPowell
Director of
Training Standards

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RankinThomas
Director of
Training Standards

- Neal Lewis Systems Man age r
JacqueWells
- Programmer/ Anatyst
MarciaBrooks
- Operations Anatyst

- John Kennedy Operations Coordinator

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I Wayne Melton
Director of Administrative Hearings
and Certification
- LoisMitchell Certification Specialist
- ValJoiner Certification Specialist I
- Lara Cooper Certification Specialist

Purpose

The purpose of the Georgia P.O.S.T. Council is to ensure that only qualified and well-trained persons are employed and remain employed as peace officers in this state. In order to attain the goals, the Council has been given the statutory authority to enforce those qualification and training requirements enumerated by laws to ensure standards are maintained by peace officers and to otherwise decertify, suspend or take corrective action against officers who violate those standards; to develop and adopt quality training for all peace officers, including basic, advanced, specialized and executive levels; to contract with other agencies, public or private, or persons for the rendering and affording of such services, facilities, studies, and reports as necessary; to cooperate with and secure the cooperation of every department, agency, or instrumentality in state government or its political subdivision for the furtherance of the purposes of maintaining and establishing standards and training for peace officers. Other major functions over which the Council has been given statutory authority include the following:



To research, plan, and establish policy relative to peace officer training



To develop, adopt, and issue advanced or professional peace officer certificates based on educa-

tion, training, and experience



To determine whether a peace officer candidate has met legal pre-employment and training

requirements



To refuse to grant a certificate or to discipline certified peace officers and exempt officers who

have not met or have failed to maintain the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing

practices of peace officers



To provide technical assistance as requested by law enforcement units



To provide and administer the certification of persons qualified to operate speed detection devices

and withdraw and suspend such certifications



To establish criteria and certify schools to conduct training



To establish minimum qualifications for school directors and certify those qualified



To certify instructors and withdraw or suspend such certifications



To establish and modify the curriculum, including methods of instruction, composing the basic

course



To evaluate schools annually for recertification



To withdraw or suspend certification of schools or school directors who fail to continue to meet or

maintain, at any given time, the criteria and qualifications required

The staff of the Georgia P.O.S.T. Council consists of the Executive Office and four divisions: Certification and Administrative Hearing, Investigations, Program Support and Training Standards.
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Certification and Administrative Hearings Division
The primary function of the Certification and Administrative Hearings Division is to
ensure compliance, by agencies and peace officers, of qualifications and training requirements enumerated in the P.O.S.T. Act and to bring action against those agencies and officers in noncompliance. Other major responsibilities include:
Processing of peace officer applications for certification and registration Issuance of basic certification certificates Radar and speed timing device certification Field technical assistance Processing of specialty certification for Field Training Officers, Arson Investigators,
Chaplains, I.D. Technicians, Communications Officers and Jail Officers General and Specialty Instructor Certifications
Certification of Peace Officers
All employees of any agency that are granted the full rights and powers under the definition of a peace officer as defined by the P.O.S.T. Act must be certified by P.O.S.T.
Peace officer applicants must complete ALL pre-employment requirements before employment. Once the pre-employment requirements are met, a POSTFORM 2 is issued.

Basic Certifications issued by the Council include:



BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT



GBI INVESTIGATOR



SHERIFF



COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER



NARCOTICS AGENT



CORRECTIONAL OFFICER



PROBATION OFFICER



PAROLE OFFICER



JAILOR



REGISTERED (GRANDFATHERED)



FORENSIC SCIENTIST (GBI only)



BASIC JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER

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P.O.S.T. Council also issues Specialty Certifications to officers and other agency staff. Specialty certifications issued by P.O.S.T. include:



RADAR



LASER



VASCAR



FIELD TRAINING OFFICER



IDENTIFICATION TECHNICIAN



CHAPLAIN



DEPARTMENTAL TRAINING OFFICER



INSTRUCTORS



CAREER DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATIONS



ARSON INVESTIGATOR

Each Specialty Certification has established certification and training requirements that must be met. Some Specialty Certifications have recertification requirements that must be completed to maintain certification in that area.

Reports

The Certification Division issues reports that enable agency heads to ensure compliance with the P.O.S.T. Act. Reports the division issue include:



Agency roster listing all personnel in the agency



Profile reports



Individual personnel and training histories



Radar rosters for an agency detailing all certified speed detection operators certification numbers

and expiration dates

Certification of Law Enforcement Agencies
All agencies covered by the P.O.S.T. Act or those permitted to voluntarily comply with the Act must be certified by submitting, to P.O.S.T., a copy of the ordinance or law that established their authority as a law enforcement agency, along with a request for certification. Once approved, the agency is supplied with an identification number and all paperwork necessary to conduct business with P.O.S.T.

CERTIFICATION STATISTICS

PEACE OFFICER STATISTICS
BASIC CERTIFICATIONS Peace Officers Chaplains Jailors Communication Officers Juvenile Correctional Officers
TOTAL BASIC
CORRECTIONS BASIC State Correctional Officers Parole Officers Probation Officers
TOTAL CORRECTIONS BASIC
EXEMPT REGISTRATIO Peace Officers Peace Officers (Retired) Federal Officers Communication Officers Juvenile Correctional Officers Jailors Municipal Probation Officers
TOTAL BASIC EXEMPT
SPECIALTY CERTIFICATIO s
Arson Investigators Field Training Officers Radar Operators Instructors Vascar Operators I.D. Technicians Laser Operators Intermediate Advanced Supervisory Management Executive Senior Instructor Trainer Master Instructor Trainer Senior Deputy Departmental Training Officer Bomb Techs. & Animal Handlers
TOTAL SPECIALTY CERT.
TOTAL ALL CERTIFICATIONS

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

1,404 4
365 204
n/a
1.977

1,804 11
453 275 198
2.741

1,992 7
636 290 701
3,626

1,774 20 824 575 725
3,918

1,680 19
1,115 518 787
4,119

1,685 7
902 434 567
3,595

1,980 29 47
2,056

979 54 100
1,133

1,281 22 138
1,441

2,711 55 160
2,926

1,557 75 112
1,744

2,070 49 124
2,243

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10

0

0

0

0

2

19

2

19

16

11

0

5

14

20

10

32

68

24

17

9

13

0

n/a

82

162

87

0

0

n/a

n/a

370 1,033

216

102

n/a

n/a

n/a

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2

1

80

140

565 1,176

257

146

28 332 1,292
-
11 15 384 116 45 28 17 1
-
n/a
2,269
6,382

25 329 1,680
-
2 4 321 93 41 18 11 2
-
n/a
2,526
6,540

28 272 1,540 613
1 19 316 146 78 58 20 4 46 4 24
-
n/a
3,169
8,801

26 541 2,348 915
2 54 335 162 93 39 18 15 42 6 18 16 9

30 540 3,162 894
0 33 481 177 98 37 14 2 40 5 22 20 17

4,639 5,572
I 12,659 11 ,692

22 565 3,238 1,044
0 38 593 171 103 36 13 10 39 8 14 19 8
5,921
11 ,905

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Hearings
Officers are entitled to challenge sanctions imposed by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. The officer's due process is afforded through an administrative hearing in accordance with the Georgia Administrative Procedures Act (O.C.G.A. 50-13).
Approximately 25% of the officers sanctioned by the Council appeal within the allotted fifteen (15) day period by filing a written request for a hearing. Once received, the Hearings Division schedules a "prehearing conference" with the affected officer, the officer's legal representative, and a member of the Attorney General's Office. Upon conclusion of the conference, the Attorney General makes a recommendation as to whether to proceed to a formal hearing or recommend alternatives, which are explored through a negotiated settlement of a specific case.
Unsettled cases are forwarded to the Office of State Administrative Hearings (O.S.A.H.) By the Hearings Division. A Special Assistant Administrative Law Judge is assigned by the Chief Judge of O.S.A.H. to preside in a contested case, and schedules a complete evidentiary hearing in the disputed matter. Upon conclusion, the Judge will render a "Final Decision" (conclusion is the same as Council's action) or an "Initial Decision (conclusion differs from Council's action). Initial Decisions are reviewed by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council through a "Final Agency Review".
Officers may appeal all decisions in Superior Court as a matter of law.

Hearings Statistics
Number of cases handled Appealed to Superior Court or Council - !,
Withdrawals/Dismissals/Surrenders
- Settlement Orders
Formal Hearings Held -
Cases Resolved

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50 100 150 200

FY 2002 FY 2001 FY 2000 FY 1999 FY 1998

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Investigations Division
The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council has discretionary authority by law, to discipline officers. Disciplinary action is taken in the form of sanctions against an officer' s certification. Action is based on the preponderance of evidence that conduct was exhibited which is deemed to be in violation of the P.O.S.T. Act (O.C.G.A. 35-8 as amended).
Investigators assigned to the Investigations Division investigate terminations of officers, suspensions of more than 30 days, and alleged criminal involvement of any officer. The investigator then makes a report which is reviewed and submitted to the P.O.S.T. Council Probable Cause Committee (PCC) for further action/recommendation. The PCC recommendation to Council may include: (a) Revocation of Certification; (b) Suspension of Certification; (c) Probation; or (d) Other Sanctions as Permitted by Law, (O.C.G.A. 35-8-7.1(11)).
Audits of Law Enforcement Agencies
P.O.S.T. audits agencies that fall under the P.O.S.T. Act for compliance with the Act. During fiscal year 2002, 754 agency audits were performed by the Investigations Division.

Case Statistics
1&00 - - ---,-- - , - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1400 - - 1200 - - 1000 - - -
800 600 400 200
0

Opened

Completed

FY1998 FY2000 FY2002

FY1999 FY2001

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Program Support Division
The Program Support Division is responsible for providing administrative support and
special services. Other major responsibilities include: Budget preparation and expenditure control Maintenance of the P.O.S.T. computer systems Procurement Inventory control . Personnel processing
Peace Officer Records
P.O.S.T.'s Data Communications Section maintains the following records on the P.O.S.T. computer system: (a) Personnel History; (b) Training Course Completions; (c) Employment History; (d) Certifications; (e) Registrations; (f) Revocations; (g) Suspensions; (h) Terminations; (i) Training Courses; (j) Agencies; (k) Chief Executives; (1) Advanced Certification Records; (m) Sheriffs', Wardens', and Chiefs' Current Training Histories; and (n) Other Miscellaneous Records. P.O.S.T. maintains employment, certification and training records on over 115,000 officers. Of these, over 50,000 are actively employed in their field of certification.
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Training Standards Division

The Trainini= Standards Division is responsible for the functions related to development, evaluation and management of peace officer training. Other major responsibilities include:

Curriculum development, modification and maintenance

Examination development and validation

Administration of required exams

Research and development

Performing quality control functions on basic and advanced-level training

Processing of school, school director, and functions relating to instructor certification

Development and coordination of the Instructor Training Course

Out-of-State course equivalency ratings for approval/disapproval

Technical assistance to ten regional police academies

Processing and evaluating new course recognition requests

Special Operations of the Training Standards Division

The TraininK Standards Division has additional responsibilities that ensure the peace officers of Georgia are receiving the highest quality and most up to date training that is available. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to:



Continuous update of the Basic Law Enforcement Master Question Bank. There are

approximately 3,000 questions in the question bank.



Installation of the Master Question Bank at the regional police academies to ensure

uniformity throughout the system.



Continue to score and validate the POST Entrance Exam to guarantee compliance with

E.E.O.C. guidelines and ensure that no adverse impact occurs with any protected classes of

persons.



Process and review Basic Course Completion packages (50-60 yearly) to ensure compliance

with POST rules and policy.



Process and review peace officers' requests for waiver of the 20 hour annual training

requirement.

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P.O.S.T. TRAINING RECORD
Officers Trained
In-Service 164,668

Career Dev. 7,984 Out of State 1,564

Advanced 25,809 Specialized 3,604

TOTAL TRAINED 261,230

Basic L.E. 1,754

Seminars 50,357 Other Basic 5,490

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P.O.S.T. TRAINING RECORD
Officers Trained
In-Service 164,668

Career Dev. 7,984 Out of State 1,564

Advanced 25,809 Specialized 3,604

TOTAL TRAINED 261 ,2Jo

Basic L.E. 1,754

Seminars 50,357 Other Basic 5,490

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Training Hours Reported

In-Service 917,344
Advanced 446,255

17.7%

Basic L.B. 692,670

Specialized 135,798
Other Basic 910,180

Total Hours: 4,011,263

Career Dev. 202,775
Out of State 43,128
Seminar 555,777

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Georgia Peace Officers

Total 5 1, 165

State Agencies 36.0% 18,422

Peace Officer Population
by Government Type
State 36.0% 18,422
Misc. Others 8.7% 4,440

Sheriff 25.4% 13,003

County Police 6.7% 3,451

Municipal 23.2% 11,849

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State Peace Officers
DJJ 3,080

GDC 9,973

Probation 2,290
Misc 348 DNR472 GSP 1057 P&P 783 DMVS 321

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