A peace officer is defined as any person vested with the authority to enforce criminal and traffic laws through the power of arrest. The peace officer's duties include protection of property and life, preserving the public order and the detection, prevention and investigation of crimes.
Peace officers serve in such state agencies as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Natural Resources. Other agencies include sheriff's offices, municipal police departments, county police departments and campus police departments.
The P.O.S.T. Council consists of 19 voting members along with a number of advisory members. The members serve the citizens and officers of the state without compensation. Members are appointed from state, local and county law enforcement agencies as well as the peace officer population and professional associations. The members meet quarterly.
An executive director supervises the Council with the assistance of an executive and clerical staff. The director oversees the organizing, planning and administration of statewide programs serving more than 40,000 peace officers in over 900 agencies.
Before a candidate can be certified by P.O.S.T. he must meet minimum standards as set forth by Official Code of Georgia Annotated 35-8-8. The requirements include being 18 years of age, having U.S. citizenship and a high school diploma or equivalent. The candidate cannot have been convicted of any crime that would have resulted in imprisonment. The candidate cannot have sufficient misdemeanors to show a disregard for the law. Crimes for which the person has received a pardon or traffic violations are not counted.
The candidate must be fingerprinted and undergo a search by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a criminal record.
The candidate must possess good moral character as determined by the Council. The hiring agency must conduct an oral interview to determine the candidate's background, ability to communicate and appearance.
The candidate must pass an examination by a physician or other licensed professional and be free of any emotional, physical or mental conditions that would adversely affect the duties of a peace officer.
The candidate must pass an academy examination.
There are more than one dozen regional law enforcement academies in Georgia that are certified by P.O.S.T. These academies are located across the state.
There are seven state academies specializing in a range of law enforcement areas. These areas include pardons and parole, natural resources, juvenile justice, and corrections, among others. These academies are located in Forsyth, GA.
Seven academies are operated through technical colleges. These are located across the state.
The Georgia Sheriff's Association and Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police also operate training units. These are located in the Greater Atlanta area.
Every person permitted or required to be certified shall use forms supplied by the council to make application. The applicant shall under oath supply all information, furnish required forms and answer all questions. The application will be valid for 18 months from the time of being submitted. If the candidate is not certified in that time period, a new application will be required. Any omitted, misleading or untrue statement shall be grounds for denial of the application or revocation if already granted.