Departmental Divisions
Uniform Patrol Division
Uniformed Patrol Division
- The Uniform Patrol Division provides patrol functions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the protection of persons and property. The division consists of professional men and women dedicated to protect and serve the Georgia Southern University community. Each officer has completed training mandated by the State of Georgia and is sworn to uphold the laws of the state. In addition, the officers are deputized by the County Sheriff’s department in the event their services are required outside the University. Patrol officers provide a variety of law enforcement services including responding to calls for service, responding to emergencies, taking reports, conducting preliminary investigations, monitoring security of University property, traffic enforcement, traffic accident investigation, and security at special events. Officers patrol the Georgia Southern University campuses and surrounding areas in marked police vehicles, on foot, on police bicycles and other marked vehicles.
Specialty Units
Bike Patrol
- Bike Patrol Officers are extremely agile and highly visible. These proactive community policing units patrol all areas of campus to include highly populated and pedestrian areas that are not accessible by vehicle, which makes them more approachable and increases interaction with the campus community. Because of their increased accessibility they are also capable of responding to areas of the campus more quickly than vehicle units.
K-9 Patrol
- K-9 Patrol Officers perform special patrol details as well as assist in daily patrol operations. The officer and specially trained canine perform tasks including building searches, evidence searches, and searches for explosive materials and/or devices. Other tasks include performing canine demonstrations for schools and civic organizations. Often the K-9 Unit is requested to assist other local, state, and federal agencies.
Evidence and Property
- The responsibility of the Evidence & Property Unit is to properly receive, document, safeguard, prepare for release, release, and destroy items entered into the custody of the Office of Public Safety. Additionally, this Unit is responsible for shipping items to other law enforcement agencies for release to owners, or submission of items and information for court proceedings. The Unit is required to safeguard found items for specified periods of time by law.
Crime Prevention
- Crime Prevention designs programs to inform students and employees about campus safety and security practices, and crime prevention. In addition, the Crime Prevention Coordinator and other personnel conduct physical security surveys upon request.
Communications Division
Communications – Police Dispatch
- Communications – Police Dispatch is responsible for handling all communications into and out of the Office of Public Safety through radio, telephone, and Live Safe mobile app communications systems. The dispatch center is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by personnel trained to handle all calls for service in both emergency and non-emergency situations. Communications personnel also monitor closed circuit cameras as well as the burglar, fire, and emergency alarm systems on each campus.
Criminal Investigation Division
Criminal Investigation
- The Criminal Investigation Division is responsible for follow-up crime investigations and internal affairs investigations, plain clothes operations, surveillance, and providing security for distinguished guests and dignitaries. Investigators are called to process crime scenes, to collect and process evidence, and to interview witnesses and possible suspects. Investigators often serve as liaisons with the offices of the District Attorney, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies.
Administrative Division
Administration
- The Administrative Division is responsible for the overall direction, development, and supervision of the Office of Public Safety. The areas of responsibility include primary business administration, management, planning and research, budget preparation and accounting, payroll, recruitment, promotion selection, public information, general orders development, and emergency management. The Division consists of the Director-Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police at Armstrong, Deputy Chief of Police at Statesboro, Captain of Criminal Investigations, Captain of Support Services, Director of Emergency Management, and Senior Administrative Assistant.
- The Certification Manager is responsible for obtaining and maintaining State Certification through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police; and maintaining liaison with the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP) and the State Director of Certification. The Certification Manager ensures that the department adheres to and follows the highest standards of law enforcement as determined by the GACP. State Certification requires that a law enforcement agency meet standards established by the GACP and that those standards and objectives be met through policy, practice and procedures. A periodic assessment by a team of trained assessors is conducted to insure that the department meets the requirements. The Certification Manager also serves as the Evidence Custodian for the department, insuring the proper documentation and storage of all lost/found property and evidence. In addition, the Manager assists in maintaining current department policies and the development and distribution of new and/or updated policies as necessary.
Records
- The Records Unit is responsible for the receipt and maintenance of physical records of all police operations including incident/offense reports, accident reports, and criminal records. In addition, this Unit assists with open records requests, crime statistics, case files, and UCR reporting.
Training and Recruitment
- The Training and Recruitment Unit is responsible for coordinating and conducting training for all police. Training subjects include criminal law, public relations, race relations, interpersonal communications, crisis intervention, critical incident response, and all other facets of protection of persons and property. The Training Coordinator also assists in the recruitment of new officers and employees to the Office of Public Safety.
Office of Emergency Management
- The Office of Emergency Management is responsible for the development and management of the University’s comprehensive emergency management program.
Last updated: 4/18/2024
