SOP_NUMBER: 104.55
TITLE: Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards
REFERENCE_CODE: IVO15-0006
DIVISION: Administration & Finance (Human Resources)
TOPIC_AREA: 104 Policy-HR Records/I.D./Criminal History
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2024-07-24
WORD_COUNT: 802
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/105295
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/104.55/

SUMMARY:
This policy establishes procedures for issuing Police Powers Identification Cards to Georgia Department of Corrections employees who are Peace Officers Standards Training (P.O.S.T.) certified and whose job duties require arrest powers and weapon authority. The policy covers eligibility requirements, card design and features, temporary card issuance, replacement procedures for lost or stolen cards, and requirements for surrendering cards upon job changes or separation from employment.

KEY_TOPICS: police powers identification card, P.O.S.T. certification, arrest powers, Office of Professional Standards, OPS, investigator identification, special agent identification, temporary identification card, lost or stolen identification, employee identification, badge image, arrest authority, weapons authority, emergency assignment

ATTACHMENTS:
  1. Police Powers Identification Card Request
     URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/104.55-att-1/

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FULL TEXT:
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards|**Policy Name:**Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards|**Policy Name:**Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards|
|**Policy Number:** 104.55|**Effective Date:** 07/24/2024|**Page Number:** 1 of 3|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:**  <br>Administration & Finance<br>Division (Human Resources)|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



**I.** **Introduction and Summary:**

The Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) may approve
the issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards to Peace Officers Standards
Training (P.O.S.T.) certified employees whose duties and responsibilities require the
authority of Police Powers.

**II.** **Authority:**

A. O.C.G.A. § 42-5-35 Authority Granted to Commissioner to Confer Police

Powers;

B. GDC Board Rule: 125-2-1-.09, Police Officer Powers; and

C. GDC Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): 104.54 GDC Identification Cards.


**III.** **Definitions:**

As used in this SOP, the term is defined as follows.

A. **Police Powers**    - Authority conferred on employees by the Commissioner to

exercise certain powers, including arrest powers and the power to carry weapons.

**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**

A. Identification:


1. The Department Human Resources Director may issue a GDC Police Powers

Identification Card to employees occupying positions in the Office of
Professional Standards (OPS) who possess a P.O.S.T.
certification/registration number and are approved by the Director, OPS.

2. The Commissioner may, by written notice to the Department Human

Resources Director, approve other jobs that require Police Powers for
issuance of a GDC Police Powers Identification Card.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards|**Policy Name:**Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards|**Policy Name:**Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards|
|**Policy Number:** 104.55|**Effective Date:** 07/24/2024|**Page Number:** 2 of 3|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:**  <br>Administration & Finance<br>Division (Human Resources)|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



3. The GDC Police Powers Identification Cards issued pursuant to this SOP

shall be identical to the employee identification cards issued to all other GDC
employees except that they shall bear an image of the badges issued to
investigators and special agents employed by OPS in lieu of the GDC’s seal,
and they shall contain a notation on the reverse of the card confirming the
delegation of arrest powers by the Commissioner.

B. Temporary Card: A temporary Police Powers Identification Card may be issued,

with approval of the Commissioner, to Department employees who are
assigned to assist with emergency situations or other special events. The card
must be returned at the completion of the assignment to the Appointing
Authority/Designee.

C. Replacement Due to Location or Name Change:


1. An employee must request a replacement of the Police Powers Identification

Card when their name or location (Division) changes. Corrections Human
Resources Management (CHRM) will destroy the old Police Powers
Identification Card.

2. Replacement Due to Lost/Stolen Identification Card:


a. If an employee’s Police Powers Identification Card has been lost or

stolen, the employee must immediately report the lost card to the
Director, OPS and the Department Human Resources Director.

b. The employee must also immediately notify local law enforcement and

file a report of the lost or stolen identification card.

c. The employee must pay $5.00 by personal check or money order (payable

to “Georgia Department of Corrections”) to replace a lost card. The
$5.00 fee will be waived if the employee provides a police report
regarding the loss or theft.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards|**Policy Name:**Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards|**Policy Name:**Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards|
|**Policy Number:** 104.55|**Effective Date:** 07/24/2024|**Page Number:** 3 of 3|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:**  <br>Administration & Finance<br>Division (Human Resources)|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



D. Request/Issuance Procedures:


1. The CHRM Representative will (1) verify eligibility and accuracy of the

information submitted and approval signatures and (2) create the Police
Powers Identification Card.

2. Police Powers Identification Cards will be mailed to the employee’s

supervisor. Temporary cards will be delivered to the Appointing
Authority/Designee supervising the assignment.

E. Surrendering an Identification Card:


1. An employee that loses P.O.S.T. certification, resigns, retires, or is dismissed

from employment must immediately surrender his or her Police Powers
Identification Card to CHRM who will destroy it.

2. An employee transferred to a job not approved for a Police Powers

Identification Card must surrender the card to CHRM unless the
Commissioner provides written authorization for the employee to retain the
card. Employees that receive written authorization from the Commissioner to
retain their card must forward a copy of the authorization to CHRM to file in
the employee’s personnel file.

**V.** **Attachments:**

Attachment 1: Police Powers Identification Card Request

**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:**

Upon completion, this form shall be retained in the employee’s personnel file.