Public Safety
Contact Public Safety
Police Administration: (912) 964-3925
Police Investigations: (912) 963-5598
Non-emergency Police Dispatch: (912) 963-5588
Emergency: 911 or (912) 964-3911
Savannah Credentialing Center: (912) 963-5539
Brunswick Credentialing Center: (912) 280-6943
ABOUT US
Georgia Ports Authority’s Police Department was established in 1945 to provide law enforcement and protective services on all properties owned and operated by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). This includes a one-mile concurrent jurisdiction around those properties located in coastal Georgia, where GPA’s deepwater terminals are located. The department derives statutory authority from Title 52, Chapter 2, of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), specifically OCGA 52-2-9(22) and OCGA 52-2-10.
The Georgia Ports Authority Police Department is recognized as a state-certified law enforcement agency, through the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program (GLECP), which is administered by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP). Currently, less than twenty percent of Georgia’s seven hundred plus law enforcement agencies are GLECP certified. The program establishes professional law enforcement standards for Georgia’s agencies and certification acknowledges the effective implementation of sound policies and procedures by departments adhering to public safety best practices.
The Georgia Ports Authority Police Department (GPAPD) is committed to providing the highest quality public safety services to the GPA community, our municipal and county neighbors, state and federal partner agencies, and the citizens of the great State of Georgia.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Georgia Ports Authority Police Department is to provide quality police services, rooted in the principles of professionalism and community collaboration, while supporting the Authority’s broader mission of safe, secure, and efficient facilitation of global commerce.
Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002
Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on our nation, Congress enacted the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or “MTSA” as it is commonly referred. This new law (MTSA), compelled the completion of new maritime security assessments, development of security plans, and implementation of security measures and procedures, designed to reduce risk and to mitigate the exposure of our nation’s ports and waterways to terrorist activity. The Ports Authority Police department is responsible for compliance and enforcement of its U.S. Coast Guard approved Facility Security Plan (FSP), as prescribed in 33 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 105 (33 CFR, Part 105). These security requirements include screenings for dangerous devices and substances; restrictive access controls measures, proactive patrols, monitoring of the facilities and surrounding areas for suspicious activity, training, information sharing and multilevel collaboration.
Police Report Dissemination
CTPAT
The Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) is a voluntary program led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection focused on improving security from point of origination and throughout the global supply chain to point of distribution. Georgia Ports Authority is a CTPAT certified partner with GPAPD personnel designated as primary points of contact. Any identified breaches of supply chain security should be reported immediately to GPA Police for investigation and CBP notification.
See Something, Say Something
Georgia Ports Safety Awareness
For the thousands of people who use Georgia Ports every day, our goal is to make sure all our safe and secure. Watch this video to learn about our efforts.
Persons who regularly access the marine terminals (5 port visits in a 365-day period) must possess a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and obtain a GPA issued credential (identification badge.) Badges issued through either the Savannah or Brunswick Credentialing Centers will be accepted at all GPA terminals. Visit our Credentialing page to learn more.
The GPA credential applications and company registration forms are subject to change. This website should be checked for the most current information regarding GPA credential procedures. Forms are located at the links on the left side of the web page.
Outline of procedure for obtaining GPA credentials (identification badges):
1. A business must first complete a company registration form and submit the form to GPA credentialing for review. Only one company registration form is required for each company.
2. GPA credential requests must be submitted by an approved company credentialing account representative to GPA credentialing for each employee, utilizing the credentialing Web portal.
3. GPA personnel will approve or reject the request and notify the company representative when they may begin submitting GPA credential requests for employees.
4. GPA credentials will be issued at the Savannah GPA Credentialing Center located at 100 Main Street, Highway 25, Garden City, Ga. 31408 or the Brunswick GPA Credentialing Center located at 25 Joe Frank Harris Blvd., Brunswick, Ga. 31520.
5. Upon employee-employer separation, the company representative will be required to immediately notify GPA of the employee’s separation utilizing the credentialing Web portal. In addition, employers should retrieve the GPA credential from the employee and return the same to the GPA.
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential, also known as TWIC®, is required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act for workers who need access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime facilities and vessels. TSA conducts a security threat assessment (background check) to determine a person’s eligibility and issues the credential.
For more information about a TWIC Card, visit: https://www.tsa.gov/twic
Any person entering the port may be subject to a vehicle safety inspection. An officer will ask you to present your TWIC card and drivers license and open all doors as they inspect your vehicle for weapons or other contraband. All persons entering the terminal who do not consent to a search upon request will be made to leave the property and could be denied future entry.
Yes. Port Police perform regular police duties on terminal as other departments perform outside of the port’s gates, including issuing speeding and traffic citations, accident and collision investigations and safety enforcement.
