Georgia State Patrol

Last updated
Georgia State Patrol
GA - State Patrol.png
Patch of Georgia State Patrol
GA - Trooper Badge.png
Badge of Georgia State Patrol
AbbreviationGSP
MottoWisdom, Justice and Moderation
Agency overview
Formed1937;88 years ago (1937)
Employees1,268 (as of 2004) [1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionGeorgia, United States
GA - Troop Map.png
Georgia State Patrol Troop Map
Size59,425 square miles (153,910 km2)
Population10.62 million (2019 est.) [2]
Legal jurisdictionStatewide
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia
Troopers845 (as of June 2016) [1]
Civilian employees412 (as of 2004) [1]
Agency executives
Parent agency Georgia Department of Public Safety
Troops10
Facilities
Posts52
Website
Georgia State Patrol

Georgia State Patrol (GSP) is a division of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. It is the primary state patrol agency for the U.S. state of Georgia, established in March 1937 in the U.S. state of Georgia. Although focused primarily on the enforcement of traffic laws and investigation of traffic crashes, the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) supports the efforts of all public safety agencies to reduce criminal activity, apprehend those involved, and respond to natural and manmade disasters.

Contents

History

The Department of Public Safety was created as Georgia citizens complained about increased traffic fatalities, crime, and a need for a larger law enforcement agency with statewide arrest powers. Georgia lawmakers decided to create the State Patrol. In 1937, Governor E.D Rivers appointed Philip H. Brewster, Sr. as its first permanent commissioner. That summer the first Trooper School was held at Georgia Tech. Eighty troopers graduated the first year. To date, the Georgia State Patrol has graduated 115 Trooper Schools. [3]

In November 2021, Distributed Denial of Secrets released 1.8 terabytes of police helicopter surveillance footage from the Dallas Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol. [4] [5] According to Wired, the footage showed helicopters capturing everything from cars lined up at a drive-through, and people standing in their yards and on the street. [4] Non-profit advocacy group Fight for the Future called the leak "a crystal-clear example of why mass surveillance makes our society less safe, not more safe." [4]

Rank structure

TitleInsignia
Commissioner (Colonel)
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Deputy Commissioner (Lieutenant Colonel)
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Major (Adjutant)
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Captain (Troop

commander)

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Lieutenant (Assistant Troop Commander)
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Sergeant First Class (Post Commander)
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Sergeant (Assistant Post Commander)
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Corporal (Assistant Post Commander)
GSP Corporal.png
.
Master Trooper No insignia
Senior Trooper No insignia
Trooper First Class 3 No insignia
Trooper First Class 2 No insignia
Trooper First Class 1 No insignia
Trooper No insignia

Patrol troops and posts

Other divisions of the Georgia DPS

Capitol Police

Officers with the Capitol Police Division investigate criminal incidents and traffic crashes; manage street closures for events; patrol the streets on Capitol Square and those adjacent to other state buildings; provide courtroom security for Georgia's Supreme Court and Court of Appeals; conduct security assessments and surveillance detection; and deliver personal safety training for state employees and others.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement

The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVE), formerly Motor Carrier Compliance Division (as of July 1st, 2025), performs driver and vehicle inspections of commercial motor vehicles at roadsides, inspection stations, and at carriers' terminals. The inspections range from "full" vehicle and driver inspections—which include mechanical components—to "driver only" inspections. These may also include inspections of vehicles transporting hazardous materials.

This division consists of the following units and programs:

Equipment

Current equipment

Previously issued equipment

Vehicles

Georgia State Patrol Dodge Charger Georgia State Patrol Dodge Charger.jpg
Georgia State Patrol Dodge Charger

The GSP currently uses Dodge Chargers as the main patrol vehicle which are in the blue and gray scheme, and are currently issuing out Dodge Durangos, Dodge Challengers, Chevrolet Camaros, Chevrolet Silverados, Ford Explorers, and Ford Mustangs. Many of these vehicles are now ordered black in color. They are painted in the traditional blue and grey at the factory with orange decals. However, some are issued in the color black displaying gray decals or black with ghost letters. In addition, they also utilize the Chevrolet Tahoe, which includes vehicles in either black, white, or grey color schemes. When these cars are retired, the decals and emergency equipment are removed from the vehicles before being auctioned off to the public, yet retain the old blue and grey scheme (or as shown on this old 1992 Ford Mustang) the decals can be spray painted over. Former models used were the Chevrolet Caprice, Ford LTD Crown Victoria, Pontiac LeMans, BMW 328i (one still kept by the state), Ford Mustang and Ford Thunderbird.

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Georgia State Patrol, 29 officers and 1 K9 have died in the line of duty. [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 USDOJ Statistics Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Population Estimates". Archived from the original on 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2008-12-25. 2007 Population Estimates
  3. "History | Georgia Department of Public Safety". Dps.georgia.gov. Archived from the original on 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  4. 1 2 3 Newman, Lily Hay (November 5, 2021). "1.8 TB of Police Helicopter Surveillance Footage Leaks Online". Wired . ISSN   1059-1028 . Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  5. Murney, Michael. "Leaked Dallas Police Helicopter Surveillance Footage Raises Privacy Concerns". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  6. georgia.gov [ bare URL ]
  7. "Peach State Protectors: The Georgia State Patrol's Glock 43". 10 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  8. "State troopers now carrying patrol rifles". Archived from the original on 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  9. "Bridging the .45 GAP". 26 April 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  10. "F/T - Glock 22 'Georgia State Patrol'". Forum.gon.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  11. "PR8452c__85856.jpg". Archived from the original on 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  12. "Georgia State Patrol, GA". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 24 June 2025.

https://dps.georgia.gov/organization/about-dps