Annual report FY 2017

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Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
Executive Director's Message
The Honorable Nathan Deal, Governor Members of the Georgia General Assembly Citizens of the State of Georgia
Irespectfully submit the Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
The Council is committed to being recognized as a leader in the law enforcement community. This leadership is being accomplished through the various initiatives that P.O.S.T. has implemented.
The P.O.S.T. Operations Division is responsible for providing administrative support with various projects and special services. Some of the projects that are currently in the works are:
Field Testing of Certification Exam Upgrade of the POST Website, with increased functionality Implemented the Pre-Investigative Consent Order process
In FY17, the Certification and Training Division accomplishments included but were not limited to:
Issued suspensions for failure to complete the required annual training for 2017 Conducted agency audits and reviewed 15 academy self-assessments
In FY17 our Investigations Division had 9 full time investigators and 1 part time investigators. This division made great strides in FY17 which included but were not limited to:
Opened over 1300 cases Expanded and improved existing computer system to decrease administrative tasks which improved
productivity and reduced time required to complete cases
I am proud of Georgia P.O.S.T. Council's accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2017. It is my desire that as you read this report you will see that we are committed to the law enforcement community and to the citizens of Georgia. We look to the future with excitement, knowing that there are many goals yet to be realized.
Respectfully Yours, Ken Vance, Executive Director

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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.O.S.T. Council administers the regulatory process, sets the standards for training and certification, and provides essential technical assistance to the law
VISION
P.O.S.T. envisions a professionally trained and ethical criminal justice profession. This is accomplished by:
Establishing and implementing high standards, developing and facilitating contemporary training curricula and programs.
Holding criminal justice professionals to a higher standard. Providing the citizens of Georgia with the best protection in the
nation.

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Georgia P.O.S.T. Council
The composition of the Council, its power, and function is established in Title 35 Chapter 8 of the Official Code of Georgia, Annotated. The Council consists of nineteen voting members and is supported by an advisory board. The voting members include:

Sheriff Mike Yeager, Chairman Chief John King, Vice-Chairman Sheriff Mike Jolley- Secretary Mayor Linda Blechinger Commissioner Tom McMichael Director Chris Barnett Commissioner Lamar Paris Lt. Steve Hyman
Sgt. Dolly Johnson Mayor Billy Trapnell Asst. Director Dan Kirk
Don Banks Chief Billy Grogan
Warden Chris Hill
Sheriff Terry Deese Major Stephen Adams
Commissioner Michael Nail Timothy Ward
Lt. Col. Russell Powell
Commissioner Walter Rabon Marshal Steve Smith Director Scott Cagle

A Peace Officer
Chief of Police
A County Sheriff
A City Manager or Mayor
A County Commissioner
Chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles of GA. or Designee
Association County Commissioners of Ga. or Designee
A Municipal Police Officer other than a Chief of Police
A Municipal Police Officer Other than a Chief of Police
President of the Georgia Municipal Association Or Designee
Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation or Designee
Member other than the Attorney General
President of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police
President of the Georgia Prison Wardens' Association
President of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association
President of the Peace Officers Association of Georgia
The Commissioner of Georgia Dept. of Community Supervision
The Commissioner of Corrections or Designee
The Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety
Department of Natural Resources
A Peace Officer
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Department of Juvenile Justice or Designee

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Georgia P.O.S.T. Council Advisory Members
The advisory members are appointed by the Council Chairman, and it is their responsibility to serve in an advisory capacity and represent a cross section of the criminal justice system. The advisory members are:

Director Chris WiggintonState Officer Executive Director Frank V. RotondoAssociation Director Executive Vice President Terry NorrisAssociation Director Director Bruce Homes
Asst. Director Nicholas Marinelli, Jr.
Lt. Barry Woodward
Chief Wayne Dennard
Director Robert Bolton Dean Tom Bojo Technical College System Major Alan Everidge

Georgia Public Safety Training Center Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Georgia Sheriffs' Association Board of Regents GA. Perimeter College Campus Police Communications Division Acworth Police Department Georgia Internal Affairs Investigators Association GA. Northwestern Technical College Law Enforecement Officer

Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
Sheriff Mike Yeager, Chairman Chief John King, Vice-Chairman
Sheriff Mike Jolley, Secretary

Training Standards Committee:
Stephen Adams, Chairman Dan Kirk, Vice-Chairman
Russell Powell Chris Barnett
Chris Hill Walter Rabon
Advisory Members:
Chris Wigginton Terry Norris
Barry Woodward Tom Bojo
Wayne Dennard Bruce Holmes Robert Bolton

Probable Cause Committee:
Michael Nail, Chairman Dolly Johnson, ViceChairman Mike Yeager John King Mike Jolley Tim Ward Linda Blechinger Steve Smith

Executive Committee:
Mike Yeager, Chairman John King, Vice-Chairman
Mike Jolley, Secretary Michael Nail, PCC
Stephen Adams, Training Stds.
Tom McMichael, Cert.

Certification Committee:
Tom McMichael, Chairman Steve Hyman, Vice-Chairman
Terry Deese Billy Grogan Lamar Paris Billy Trapnell Don Banks Scott Cagle
Advisory Members:
Frank Rotondo Nicholas Marinelli, Jr.
Alan Everidge

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Georgia P.O.S.T. Council Staff Executive Director
The Council's rules and policies are executed by a professional and clerical staff, which operates under the supervision of the Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the administration of a statewide program involving over 60,000 officers actively employed by over 1100 agencies.
Appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue as Executive Director of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, August 15, 2007 - Present
Georgia College & State University, Director of Public Safety/University Police Chief, October 1, 1982 August 15, 2007
City of Milledgeville- Councilman, 1981 - Present Baldwin County Board of Education, High School English Teacher, 1980-1985 Baldwin County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Sheriff, 1976-1982 Monroe Police Department, Peace Officer, 1975-1976 Peace Officer Standards & Training Council-Executive Board- Chairman & Vice-Chairman:
Probable Cause Committee-Chairman State of Georgia Municipal Training Institute-Chairman, 8 years State of Georgia E-911 Board Georgia Municipal Association Board of Directors University of Arkansas, Master of Fine Arts Georgia College, Bachelor of Arts Young Harris College, Associate of Arts Degree

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Georgia P.O.S.T. Council

Budget Manager NeeNah Yarbrough

Director of P.O.S.T. Investigations Phillip Stacy

Denise Hudson Administrative
Assistant Julie Lewandowski
Carl Ellis
Leevan Kirk

Mike Bowman Tommy Keheley

Doug Fleming Leevan Kirk

Pam Ritteweger Part Time Investigator

Paula Sparks

Steve Goodyear

Executive Director Ken Vance

Director of P.O.S.T. Training & Certifications Jeff Miller

Neal Lewis IT Manager
David Nettles Programmer

Lois Mitchell Certifications
Specialist
Diane Gaddis Certifications
Specialist
Gena Adams Certifications
Specialist

Liz Chadell Certifications
Specialist
Zetta Lowery Certifications
Specialist
Melanie Monk Certifications
Specialist
Sharon Jones Auditor Position

Executive Assistant Meghan Fail
Director of P.O.S.T. Operations Ryan Powell
Renee Shaw Administrative
Hearings
Lara Hollister Operations
Analyst
Jill Perry Records Custodian

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Purpose
The purpose of the Georgia P.O.S.T. Council is to ensure that only qualified and well-trained persons are certified as peace officers in this state. In order to attain the goals, the Council has been given the statutory authority to enforce those qualifications and training requirements enumerated by laws to:
Research, plan, and establish policy relative to peace officer training Develop, adopt, and issue advanced or professional peace officer certificates based on education,
training, and experience Determine whether a peace officer candidate has met legal pre-employment and training requirements Refuse to grant a certificate or to discipline certified peace offices and exempt officers who have not
met or have failed to maintain the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing practices of peace officers Provide technical assistance as requested by law enforcement units Provide and administer the certification of persons qualified to operate speed detection devices and withdraw and suspend such certifications Establish minimum qualifications for school directors and certify those qualified Certify instructors and withdraw or suspend such certifications Establish and modify the curriculum, including methods of instruction, composing the basic course Evaluate schools annually for recertification 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 Enforce those qualifications and training requirements enumerated by laws Ensure standards are maintained by peace officers Take corrective action against officers who violate standards Develop and adopt quality training for all peace officers
The staff of the Georgia P.O.S.T. Council consists of the Executive Office and 3 divisions: Certification and Training Standards Division Investigations Division P.O.S.T. Operations

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Certification and Training Standards Division

The primary function of the Certification and Training Standards Division is to ensure compliance, by agencies and peace officers, of qualifications and training requirements enumerated in the P.O.S.T. Act. Some major responsibilities include:

Process applications for peace officer certification Issue of basic certification Certify speed detection device operators Provide technical assistance to agencies Processing of specialty certifications General and Specialty Instructors Certification Seminar Approval
Certification of Peace Officers

Division Reports: Agency rosters
Demographic reports
Individual personnel and training histories
Agency deficiency reports

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 certification requirements before employment. Once the preemployment requirements are met, an authorization for training is issued.

Certifications issued by the Council include:

BASIC CERTIFICATIONS Basic Law Enforcement GBI Investigator Sheriff Communications Officer Narcotics Agent Correctional Officer Probation Officer Parole Officer Jail Officer Forensic Scientist (GBI only) Basic Juvenile Correctional
Officer Municipal Probation Officer Communication Officer

SPECIALTY CERTIFICATIONS Radar Laser Vascar Field Training Officer Identification Technician Departmental Training Officer General & Specialty Instructors Career Development Certifications Arson Investigator Bomb Technician Handler of Animal Trained to Detect
Explosives Senior and Master Instructor Trainer

Recognition of Law Enforcement Agencies
All agencies covered by the P.O.S.T. Act or those permitted to voluntarily comply with the Act can be recognized by P.O.S.T. Those requesting recognition must submit 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 recognition from appointing authority. Once approved, the agency is supplied with an identification number and all paperwork necessary to conduct business with P.O.S.T.

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Georgia P.O.S.T. Council Certification & Training Standards Division
Jeff Miller
Division Director

Melanie Monk Certification
Specialist
Corrections Officer
Certification

Gena Adams Certification
Specialist
Jail Officer Certification
Communication Officer
Certification

Process 20-hour Training Waivers

Diane Gaddis Certification
Specialist
Juvenile Correction
Officer
F.T.O/I.D. Tech D.T.O. & Arson
Certification
Generalized, Guest &
Specialzed Instructor Certifications
Career Development Certification

Lois Mitchell Certification
Specialist
Peace Officer Certification
Sheriff and GBI Certification
Archive Records Liaison
Medical Disability Suspension

Zetta Lowery Certificatin Specialist
Peace Officer Certification
Process EOT Applications

Liz Chadell Certification Specialist
Speed Detection Certification
Enters Training

Sharon Jones Auditor
Audit Academies and
Agencies
Attend Academy Advisory Board
Meetings
Conducted POST overview courses

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PEACE OFFICER STATISTICS
BASIC CERTIFICATIONS Peace Officer Juvenile Probation Officer Jail Officer Communication Officer Juvenile Correctional Officer State Correctional Officer Parole & Probation Officer
TOTAL BASIC EXEMPT REGISTRATIONS
Peace Officer(Retired) Federal Officer TOTAL BASIC EXEMPT SPECIALTY CERTIFICATIONS Arson Investigator Field Training Officer Radar Operator Instructor Latent Print Examiner Laser Operator Sheriff Traffic Accident Reconstruction
CAREER DEVELOPMENT Intermediate Advanced Supervisory Management Executive Senior Instructor Trainer Master Instructor Trainer Senior Deputy Departmental Training Officer Bomb Techs. & Animal Handler Jail Training Officer Comm. Training Officer Crime Scene Tech
TOTAL SPECIALTY CERTIFICATIONS TOTAL ALL CERTIFICATIONS

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

1,756 0
1,353 414 669
2,021 191
6,404
5 0 5
15 595 681 924
0 690
12 8

1,742 0
1,484 464 508
2,023 180
6,401
0 0 0
15 591 676 832
0 785
4 16

1,860 0
1,570 510 575
1,955 286
6,756
0 0 0
19 591 746 897
0 703
1 14

1,935 52
1,546 518 509
1,870 194
6,624
4 0 4
26 653 595 805
0 588
0 14

1,954 36
1,677 550 559
1,685 205
6,666
1 0 1
21 688 723 1,029
3 660
7 18

225 141 166
95 9
66 5 9
20 7 1 0
23
3,692
10,101

183 155 173
95 7
53 6
13 0
16 9 1
39
3,669
10,070

225 129 189 103
4 55
9 25
1 8 29 0 21
3,769
10,525

178 127 218
90 11 56 10 12 16 11 14
1 27
3,452
10,080

218 112 222 131
9 59
6 12
1 10 20
0 45
3,994
10,661

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Training Standards Division
The Training 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 Research and development Performing quality control functions on basic and advanced-level training Processing of school, school director, and functions relating to instructor
certification Out-of-State course equivalency ratings for approval/disapproval Technical assistance to 28 POST certified police academies Processing and evaluating new course recognition requests
Special Operations of the Training Standards Division
The Training 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:
Process and review Basic Course Completion packages (300+) to ensure compliance with POST rules and policy
Process and review peace officers' requests for waiver of the 20 hour annual training requirement
Re-certification Application Processing

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Georgia Peace Officers

Local Agencies
47,924 78%

State Agencies
13,651 22%

Total 61,575

Local Agencies State Agencies

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Peace Officer Population
by Government Type

30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000
5,000 -

25,862

13,651

14,035

3,642 440

State County

Municipal Mis. Others Judicial

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Employed by State Agencies

8,000

7,473

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,933

1,661

1,000

1,142 827

241

338

36

-

GDC

DJJ Probation GSP

Misc

GCS

DNR

GBI

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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 they were in violation of the P.O.S.T. Act (O.C.G.A. 35-8 as amended).
Discipline/Investigation of Officers
This division is responsible for investigating terminations of officers, suspensions of more than 30 days, and alleged criminal involvement of any officer. The investigator then reports to the P.O.S.T. Council Probable Cause Committee (PCC) for further action/recommendation. The PCC recommends a sanction to the Council, which may include: (a) Revocation of Certification; (b) Suspension of Certification; (c) Probation; or (d) Sanctions as permitted by Law, (O.C.G.A. 35-8-7.1(11)). During FY 2017 there were over 100 felony arrest/indictment suspension orders issued.
Technical Assistance
The investigation division also provides technical assistance to the law enforcement agencies and their officers in matters relating to the P.O.S.T. Act.

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GEORGIA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING
COUNCIL Investigations Division

1. Allegation of Misconduct is Reported to
P.O.S.T.

6. COUNCIL DETERMINES
SANCTION

2. Investigations Director
determines applicability to O.C.G.A. 35-8-7.1

5. Probable Cause
Committee Recommendation Presented to Full
Council

7. Officer is Notified via Certified Mail of
the Council Sanction and his or her right to contest the action through the Hearing Process

3. Case is assigned to P.O.S.T. Investigator

4. Case Investigated and
Presented to Probable Cause
Committee

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Hearings
Officers are entitled to challenge sanctions imposed on their certification by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. The officer's due process is afforded through and administrative hearing in accordance with the Georgia Administrative Procedures Act (O.C.G.A. 50-13).
It is estimated that over 15% 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, a "pre-hearing conference" is scheduled with the affected officer, the officer's legal representative, and a member of the Attorney General's Office. During a pre-hearing conference, a negotiated settlement is explored. The Attorney General makes a recommendation as to whether to proceed to a formal hearing or suggest an alternative.
Unsettled cases are forwarded to the Office of State Administrative Hearings (O.S.A.H.). 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. During Fiscal year 2017 there were 130 pre-hearing conferences held.

GEORGIA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL
Administrative Hearings

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OFFICER IS NOTIFIED VIA CERTIFIED MAIL
OF SANCTION IMPOSED BY P.O.S.T.
COUNCIL

CASE IS FORWARDED FOR
A PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE TO BE SCHEDULED
FILE DUPLICATED & FORWARDED TO
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE

OFFICER CHALLENGES SANCTION / REQUEST
HEARING
PREHEARING CONFERENCE A.G. / RESPONDENT/ AND P.O.S.T.

SETTLEMENT REACHED /
APPROVED BY CHAIRMAN
PROCEED TO FULL HEARING

A.L.J. DECISION IS SAME AS COUNCIL
FINAL ACTION
A.L.J. DECISION IS DIFFERENT THAN COUNCIL
FINAL AGENCY REVIEW

OFFICE OF STATE ADMINISTRATIVE
HEARINGS CONDUCTS
HEARING

OFFICER MAY APPEAL A.L.J. DECISION OR AGENCY DECISION IN
SUPERIOR COURT

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P.O.S.T. Operations Division
The P.O.S.T. Operations Division is responsible for providing administrative support and special services. Other major responsibilities include:
Certification Examination Custodian of Records- Open Records Request Curriculum Revision Special Projects Media Relations Rule Revisions Technology Support for Headquarters & Field
Officers Administrative Hearings Pre-Investigative Consent Orders
During FY 2017 P.O.S.T. responded to approximately 6,693 Open Records Requests. This Division is tasked with searching for and implementing new processes that will make the agency more efficient.

Maintenance of P.O.S.T. Computer System/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. Employment History C. Discipline D. Training Courses E. Chief Executives F. Sheriffs'; Wardens'; and Chiefs'
Current Training Histories

G. Training Course Completions H. Certification/Registration I. Terminations J. Agencies K. Advanced Certification

P.O.S.T. maintains employment, certification and training records on over 115,000 officers. Of these, over 61,000 are actively employed in their field of certification.

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Hearings
Officers are entitled to challenge sanctions imposed on their certification by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. The officer's due process is afforded through and administrative hearing in accordance with the Georgia Administrative Procedures Act (O.C.G.A. 50-13).
It is estimated that over 15% 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, a "pre-hearing conference" is scheduled with the affected officer, the officer's legal representative, and a member of the Attorney General's Office. During a pre-hearing conference, a negotiated settlement is explored. The Attorney General makes a recommendation as to whether to proceed to a formal hearing or suggest an alternative.
Unsettled cases are forwarded to the Office of State Administrative Hearings (O.S.A.H.). 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. During Fiscal year 2017 there were 130 pre-hearing conferences held.

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PRE-INVESTIGATIVE CONSENT ORDERS
The Pre-Investigative Consent Order (commonly referred to as PICO) Program was designed to help alleviate the Investigation Division with backlog cases and reduce their case load as a result of the implementation of the POST Data Gateway. The PICO program allows certain applicants/candidates and certified officers to resolve a POST disciplinary issue in an expedient manner with use of consent orders for certain violations similar to plea agreements in certain criminal cases.
Although POST Council approved POST RULE Chapter 464-7 entitled Pre-Investigative Consent Orders in December 2015, the rule became effective on Jan. 10, 2016. The process became available to Applicants and Certified Officers after March 9, 2016 POST Council Meeting.
According to POST Rule Chapter 464-7, Pre-investigative consent agreements may be entered into by Georgia POST Council and an applicant/candidate for certification or person certified pursuant to O.C.G.A. Title 35, Chapter 8. POST Council may issue a pre-investigative consent order in situations in which the individual agrees to the imposition of certain disciplinary sanctions in accordance with O.C.G.A. Title 35, Chapter 8, Section 7.1. Entering into a consent agreement resulting in a consent order is entirely voluntary and any person entering into such agreement waives all other proceedings, hearings and processes normally associated with actions taken by POST Council.
In certain instances, using guidelines approved by the POST Council, a pre-investigative consent order may be offered, in lieu of a full POST disciplinary investigation. Any such consent order agreed upon and finalized by the Executive Director and Chairman shall be presented before the Council at the next regularly scheduled meeting for final approval. In cases in which no agreement is made, the Director of the Investigations Division of the Council shall assign the case to an investigator as in other cases.
A pre-investigative consent order may be rescinded by the Council if it is found to have been based on misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent information or documents submitted to POST Council or its staff. If a pre-investigative consent order is rescinded, the investigative matter shall be forwarded to the POST Investigations Division for review by the Council.
The Administrative Hearing Officer oversees the Pre-Investigative Consent Orders after case assignment from the Director of Investigations Division.
Since June 2016, POST Council has approved 127 Pre-Investigative Consent Orders.