| Georgia State Patrol | |
|---|---|
 Patch of Georgia State Patrol | |
 Badge of Georgia State Patrol | |
| Abbreviation | GSP |
| Motto | Wisdom, Justice and Moderation |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1937 |
| Employees | 1,268 (as of 2004)[1] |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Georgia, United States |
 | |
| Georgia State Patrol Troop Map | |
| Size | 59,425 square miles (153,910 km2) |
| Population | 10.62 million (2019 est.)[2] |
| Legal jurisdiction | Statewide |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Troopers | 845 (as of June 2016)[1] |
| Civilian employees | 412 (as of 2004)[1] |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency | Georgia Department of Public Safety |
| Troops | 10 |
| Facilities | |
| Posts | 52 |
| Website | |
| Official Site | |
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) was established in March 1937 in the U.S. state of Georgia and is a division of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. It is the primary state patrol agency for 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.
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]
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Commissioner (Colonel) |  |
| Deputy Commissioner (Lieutenant Colonel) |  |
| Major (Adjutant) |  |
| Captain (Troop Commander) |  |
| Lieutenant (Assistant Troop Commander) |  |
| Sergeant First Class (Post Commander) |  |
| Sergeant (Assistant Post Commander) |  |
| Corporal (Assistant Post Commander) |  |
| 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 |
|
Main article: Georgia Department of Public Safety |
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.
The Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) 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:
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, and Chevrolet Camaros. 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 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, Pontiac LeMans, BMW 528i (one still kept by the state), Ford Mustang and Ford Thunderbird.
Since the establishment of the Georgia State Patrol, 26 officers have died in the line of duty.[12]
