Georgia Peace Officer Safety Training

Georgia peace officers must become certified by the P.S.T.

The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.S.T.) sets the standard for training Georgia peace officers, or agents of the state responsible for enforcing the law. In addition, the P.S.T. provides certification for peace officers in the state. There are currently more than 40,000 officers, including in the county and municipal police, working in more than 900 agencies, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Department of Corrections.

Basic Course

The P.S.T. creates and carries basic courses designed for each individual agency; therefore, all basic courses vary depending on the kind of work that peace officers will perform in the agency they'll work for. If a certified peace officer chooses to work for another agency, he must complete the basic course and other requirements for that particular agency. Full attendance and completion of these basic courses are required to become certified by the P.S.T. and work as a peace officer.

20-Hour Training

Every year, a peace officer must complete 20 hours of training. It's the responsibility of the individual peace officer, not the agency, to make sure that the 20 hours of training are completed. Only persons with medical disabilities or other reasons accepted by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council are exempt from completing the annual 20-hour program.

Consequences

Any officer who fails to comply with the 20-hour program rule, including those exempt by the council, loses her "power of arrest." Once a peace officer completes the 20-hour program, her certification can last indefinitely. In other words, a certified peace officer is able to leave and return to employment with a state agency without having to meet other requirements.

Firearms

Every year, peace officers must complete a firearm training program or they're subject to lose their "power of arrest." In addition, Georgia peace officers are obliged by law to successfully complete a minimum of at least two hours of firearm training guided by P.S.T. instructors annually. This training consists of lessons on federal and state laws regarding the usage of firearms, as well as on the specific agency's policies on firearms. Georgia peace officers who fail to successfully pass this training may participate in additional firearm practices until a passing score is achieved.

Course Administration

All of the training required to become a peace officer takes place in schools certified by the P.S.T. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council may accept credit for specialized courses completed in law enforcement facilities, academies or other higher-education institutions. However, all basic courses must be completed in a training center certified by the P.S.T. where the entire class engages in the training.

References

• Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council: About P.S.T.
• Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council: Title 35---Chapter 8
• Georgia Secretary of State: The Administrative History of Chapter 464