GSP - Specialized Assignments
Aviation
The GSP Aviation Division was created in 1974 and provides aerial support to state, federal and local agencies in support of public safety interest of the citizens of Georgia. The division has grown into a diverse rotorcraft unit and has developed unique capabilities to assist in saving lives.
Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU)
The Criminal Interdiction Unit is a highly trained and motivated unit comprised of seven teams that are spread geographically around the state. The general focus of the Criminal Interdiction Unit is the interdiction of any crime in transit, including narcotics, burglaries, thefts, money laundering, weapons violations, kidnappings, assaults, robbery, murder, stolen vehicles, or fugitive apprehensions.
Executive Security
Members in this section provide security for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.
Honor Guard
Members provide assistance at funerals when requested for current and retired members, current or retired public officials and for members of other law enforcement agencies. This unit also provides a color guard team to present the flags at special events.
Implied Consent
This unit is charged with the responsibility of maintaining, servicing and inspecting the nearly 650 alcohol breath testing instruments across the state of Georgia. They must maintain the instruments performance, accuracy and validity. All state and local law enforcement officers depend on members of this unit to ensure a conviction of impaired drivers.
Nighthawks DUI Task Force
The GSP Nighthawks Task Force is composed of three teams of Georgia State Troopers who have undergone specialized training in impaired driving enforcement. The Nighthawks began patrols in the fall of 2004 in Fulton, Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties during the peak hours for impaired drivers. In 2009, the Nighthawks added six troopers to the metro team and also formed a team to patrol the Savannah-Statesboro area. Additionally, Nighthawk troopers patrol in the Athens-Clarke County area. In 2012, a third team was formed to patrol in Macon and Columbus.
Office of Professional Standards
Members conduct investigations related to public and internal complaints against members of the department and pre-employment background investigations.
Recruiting
Members work to attract and target qualified applicants for employment opportunities with the Georgia State Patrol.
SCRT - Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team
The main mission of the Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is to provide a means by which fatal crashes can be investigated thoroughly by specially trained investigators and properly document evidence in collisions to be used for successful court prosecution.
S.W.A.T. - Specialized Weapons and Tactics
It is the mission of the SWAT team to provide a highly trained and skilled tactical team as a resource for the Department of Public Safety and all law enforcement agencies in the State of Georgia in resolving critical incidents.
Training
The Georgia State Patrol Training unit is located at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth, Georgia. Training is responsible for recruit training, in-service training, advanced, and specialized training for all members of the department.