State Certification

Law Enforcement Certification

On July 31, 2001, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police recognized the Richmond County Marshal’s Office for obtaining State Certification. The Marshal’s Office is the first law enforcement agency in Richmond County who has achieved this high standard. Out of over 700 eligible law enforcement agencies in the State of Georgia, only 83 are certified.

During the Augusta-Richmond County Commission meeting on August 21, 2001, Mr. Darby, the Director of the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program, presented Marshal Steve Smith with a plaque recognizing the Marshal's Office for achieving State Certification.

This is a great achievement for our department and benefits the community. By continuing to comply with the standards and living by the spirit of the program, the community is assured the services provided by the Marshal’s Office will be of the best professional and ethical standards of a law enforcement agency.

State of Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program

The State of Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program is comprised of a comprehensive set of voluntary, model management, operational, and service level standards for Georgia Law Enforcement agencies. There are currently 115 standards, which must be met. This process usually takes one to two years to complete.

These standards reflect the best professional requirements and practices for a law enforcement agency. State Certified law enforcement agencies are more likely to obtain favorable results in relation to liability claims.