Title 35

All officers, troopers, and communications officers who are in the classified service as defined by Code Section 45-20-2 may be dismissed from their employment with the department only in accordance with Chapter 20 of Title 45 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.…

All officers, troopers, and communications officers who are in the classified service as defined by Code Section 45-20-2 may be suspended pending their dismissal from employment with the department as provided in Chapter 20 of Title 45 or the rules and regulations promulgated the…

The commissioner shall, within the limit of the appropriation, provide the sworn members of the Department of Public Safety with proper uniforms, suitable to the season, and also with emergency and first-aid outfits, weapons, motor vehicles with radio equipment, and all other nec…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘disability’’ means a disability that prevents an individual from working as a law enforcement officer. (b) When a member of the Uniform Division of the Department of Public Safety leaves the Uniform Division as a result of a disability…

(a) The uniforms, supplies, and equipment authorized by Code Section 35-2-49 shall be purchased by the Department of Administrative Services, with the consent and approval of the Department of Public Safety, by bid let to the lowest and best bidder and in accordance with specific…

(a) The commissioner shall provide a storeroom or rooms where all excess supplies of clothing, equipment, and other articles shall be stored and shall insure the same against loss by fire. (b) All old and worn equipment must be delivered to the custodian or custodians of such sto…

The commissioner, at his discretion and subject to available funds, shall be authorized to pay to members of the Uniform Division a clothing allowance when the members are permanently assigned to personal security or special duty assignments which necessitate those members wearin…

No member of the Uniform Division of the Department of Public Safety shall receive any costs, emoluments, or other compensation other than his salary and any additional compensation provided by or through federal funding to which he may be entitled, except a legal reward as other…

(a) The commissioner, with the approval of the board, is authorized to purchase group life, group accident, and group hospitalization insurance contracts, policies, or certificates issued to the members of the Uniform Division, provided that such contracts of insurance shall be a…

The commissioner is authorized and directed to arrange the work schedules of members of the Uniform Division in such a manner that each member shall be given compensatory time off for each day which he is required to work and which is also a legal state holiday. Such compensatory…

When an unmarked pursuit vehicle used by the Georgia State Patrol for the purpose of enforcing the traffic laws of this state is first removed from the field and will no longer be used on a regular basis for pursuit purposes, the commissioner of public safety is authorized, in hi…

(a) Any other provision of law notwithstanding, the commissioner, subject to approval by the board, shall have the power to sell or trade surplus motor vehicles no longer needed by the department and use the proceeds from the sale or trade toward the purchase of new motor vehicle…

The commissioner is authorized, with the approval of the board, to establish a Security Guard Division within the department. History. — Ga. L. 1968, p. 475, § 1.

(a) While in the performance of their duties, such security guards shall have the same powers of arrest and the same powers to enforce law and order as the sheriff of the county and the chief of police of the municipality in this state in which any such security guards are perfor…

All persons employed as security guards shall be compensated in an amount to be prescribed by the commissioner and shall be furnished with and shall wear such distinctive uniforms and equipment as may be prescribed by the commissioner. History. — Ga. L. 1968, p. 475, § 3.

(a) The commissioner shall be authorized to employ such number of security guards as may be necessary to keep watch over and protect the Governor and members of his immediate family, the Lieutenant Governor and members of his immediate family, the Speaker of the House of Represen…

(a) The Governor is authorized, in his discretion, to direct by executive order that the employees of the Security Guard Division shall be covered by the rules of the State Personnel Board and in such order shall specify the date on which the rules shall become applicable to such…

This article shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Public Safety Nomenclature Act of 1995.’’ History. — Code 1981, § 35-2-80, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 925, § 2.

As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Badge’’ means any official badge used by members of the Department of Public Safety, either in the past or currently. (2) ‘‘Commissioner’’ means the commissioner of public safety. (3) ‘‘Department’’ means the Department of Public Safety. (…

Whoever, except with the written permission of the commissioner, knowingly uses the words ‘‘Georgia Department of Public Safety,’’ ‘‘State Patrol,’’ ‘‘State Police,’’ ‘‘State Highway Patrol,’’ ‘‘State Trooper,’’ or ‘‘State Patrolman’’ in connection with any advertisement, circula…

Any person who uses or displays any symbol, including any emblem, seal, or badge, current or historical, used by the department without written permission from the commissioner shall be in violation of this article. History. — Code 1981, § 35-2-83, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 925,…

Any person wishing permission to use either department nomenclature or symbols may request such permission in writing to the commissioner. The commissioner shall serve notice on the requesting party within 15 calendar days after receipt of the request of his or her decision on wh…

Whenever there shall be an actual or threatened violation of Code Section 35-2-82 or 35-2-83, the commissioner shall have the right to apply to the Superior Court of Fulton County or to the superior court of the county of residence of the violator for an injunction to restrain th…

In addition to any other relief or sanction for a violation of Code Section 35-2-82 or 35-2-83, where the violation is willful, the commissioner shall be entitled to collect a civil penalty in the amount of $500.00 for each violation. Further, when there is a finding of willful v…

Any person who has given money or any other item of value to another person due in part to such person’s use of department nomenclature or symbols in violation of this article may maintain a suit for damages against the violator. Where it is proven that the violation was willful,…

Any person who violates the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not less than $1,000.00 nor more than $5,000.00 or to imprisonment for not less than one and not more than five years, or both. Each violat…

There shall be created and established a division of the Department of Public Safety to be known as the Motor Carrier Compliance Division, and within the division shall be created a section to be known as the Motor Carrier Compliance Enforcement Section. Except as provided in Cod…

(a) The Motor Carrier Compliance Enforcement Section of the department shall have jurisdiction throughout this state with such duties and powers as are prescribed by law. (b) The primary duties of the Motor Carrier Compliance Enforcement Section shall be as follows: (1) Enforceme…

(a) The commissioner is authorized to establish a position to be known as ‘‘weight inspector’’ within the Motor Carrier Compliance Enforcement Section of the Department of Public Safety. Weight inspectors shall be assigned to fixed scales facilities and shall not be authorized to…

As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Capitol Square’’ means that area designated as such by Code Section 50-2-28. (2) ‘‘Commissioner’’ means the commissioner of public safety. (3) ‘‘Department’’ means the Department of Public Safety. (4) ‘‘Division’’ means the Capitol Police …

There is created and established a division of the Department of Public Safety to be known as the Capitol Police Division. The department shall staff such division with certified law enforcement officers, who shall be designated capitol police officers, security personnel under t…

(a) The division shall have jurisdiction and the primary duty to enforce all laws in Capitol Square and the property and buildings owned by the Georgia Building Authority within a five-mile radius of Capitol Square. (b) The division shall have the following additional duties: (1)…

The Georgia Building Authority shall reimburse the department for the costs to the department of performing police and security duties within Capitol Square in accordance with an intergovernmental agreement by and between the department and the Georgia Building Authority. Such ag…

(a)(1) On and after September 1, 2011, the Department of Public Safety shall be authorized to acquire, operate, maintain, house, and dispose of all state aviation assets assigned to the department, to provide aviation services and oversight of such state aircraft and aviation ope…

As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Critical incident support services’’ means interventions designed to provide compassionate or coping support in the event of involvement in, being a witness to, or being otherwise affected by a traumatic event, including, but not limited t…

There is established the Office of Public Safety Officer Support within the Department of Public Safety. History. — Code 1981, § 35-2-161, enacted by Ga. L. 2018, p. 716, § 2/HB 703.

The support coordinator shall be appointed by and be under the direction of the commissioner. The support coordinator shall be an individual with experience as a public safety officer and who has received training and exhibited a demonstrated professional ability to provide emoti…

(a) The Office of Public Safety Officer Support within the Department of Public Safety may respond to and provide peer counselors and critical incident support services to any requesting public entities that employ public safety officers. The office may respond to and provide pee…

The commissioner is authorized to provide and designate for the use of the support coordinator such space as shall be necessary to quarter the support coordinator and his or her staff. The support coordinator shall establish policies and procedures for the implementation of this …

Powers and duties of security guards. Compensation, uniforms, and equipment of security guards. Security guards for protection of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and their families and executive department; transportation of family members at state expense. G…

As used in this chapter, the term: (1) ‘‘Bureau’’ means the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. (2) ‘‘Director’’ means the director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. History. — Code 1981, § 35-3-1; Ga. L. 2005, p. 599, § 1/SB 146.

(a) All agents of the bureau shall be governed by such rules of position, classification, appointment, promotion, demotion, transfer, dismissal, qualification, compensation, seniority privileges, tenure, and other employment standards as may now or hereafter be established under …

The bureau is authorized to pay all medical, surgical, hospital, nursing, and other similar expenses incurred by any member of the bureau as a result of injuries received in the line of duty. The bureau is authorized to make such payments in addition to any award made by the Stat…

(a) Any district attorney of this state may request the assistance of the bureau to conduct and exercise its lawful powers and authorities in the investigation of any criminal matter. (b) Any head of a municipal or county fire department may request the assistance of the bureau t…

To the extent permitted by federal law, the bureau shall post on its public website the information of persons who are aliens and who have been released from federal custody within the boundaries of this state, as such information is presented within the Law Enforcement Notificat…

There is created a Georgia Bureau of Investigation which shall be a separate department and agency of state government. History. — Ga. L. 1937, p. 322, art. 3, § 1; Ga. L. 1972, p. 1015, §§ 1608, 1608.1; Ga. L. 1974, p. 109, § 2.