Office of the Superintendent - Security
General Information
Welcome on behalf of the men and women of the Muscogee County School District Office of Security. The Office of Security for the Muscogee County School District comprises sworn Peace Officers, Muscogee County School District Police Department School Resource Officers, and Civilian Personnel to accomplish our mission. The Police Department provides law enforcement services to the District's approximately 30,000 students and 5,500 employees, and 62 properties. The program was established and modeled to reflect a multi-faceted approach to community policing in the schools. Commonly referred to as the "Triad Model," our school resource officers engage in three activities: law enforcement, mentoring, and law-related education.
The Muscogee County School District Police is a progressive and forward-thinking organization enjoying the support of the Muscogee County Board of Education, Superintendent, staff, and parents. These stakeholders recognize the department's critical importance in providing a safe learning environment for students and staff. Therefore, Muscogee County School District Police personnel concentrate their policing efforts on improving campus safety and creating safe school passages for students, staff, and the school community. The goal of the team is to address the quality of life issues that impact student safety and the ability of the students and staff to enjoy a safe learning environment free from the fear of crime. In addition, our team is committed to ensuring a safe school community as we partner with local Municipal, County, and State law enforcement agencies, residential and business communities, faith-based organizations, and various non-profit community-service organizations.
The School Police Dispatcher Center also serves as the Central Monitoring Station for all School District alarms, video surveillance, and critical systems. The center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Chief Greg Arp leads the Division. Chief Arp has been in Law Enforcement since 1987 and holds a bachelor's degree from Georgia State University in Criminal Justice. He graduated from the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, where he obtained a Master's Degree in Public Administration. Additionally, Chief Arp holds basic, management, and executive law enforcement certifications from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
Captain James Morris is second in command, a 25-year law enforcement veteran who spent 20 years with the Cherokee County School Police Department. Captain Morris has a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management from Western Carolina University and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University. Additionally, Captain Morris is a Georgia Law Enforcement Command College graduate from Columbus State University. Captain Morris is a certified instructor with basic, intermediate, and advanced law enforcement certifications from the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council.
Documents and Resources
Muscogee County Sheriff's Office
Frequently Asked Questions
Not only can they; it is encouraged. Police Officers are encouraged to engage students in positive dialogue to build positive relationships. In the event a student becomes a suspect in a criminal case, the same Constitutional Rights apply to the student as if they were outside of the school setting. The age of the students is taken into consideration when speaking with students in regard to incidents that they may have witnessed.
Police Officers are in our schools to create a safe learning environment. Police Officers are not administrators and are not in the schools to enforce school policy. Officers do work closely with Administrators to assure the safety of the students and the staff.
Yes. We would hope that all of our parents and guardians would be good examples for all of our students, but, unfortunately, there are times that this is not the case. On these rare occasions where parents or guardians create unacceptable patterns of behavior, they will be banned for a period of time. This could range from weeks, to months, to years. If they return prior to the date specified, this could result in criminal charges.
Safety is paramount at all of our schools, and the traffic patterns that are in place are for the safest and most effective movement of traffic. Those drivers that are habitual violators of the traffic regulations could lose the privilege to drive on Muscogee County School Property, and, depending on the severity, could receive a traffic citation or risk arrest. We depend on you to keep our students safe.
Yes. Random canine intervention is used in all of schools. The Canine Units that are used are trained to detect a wide range of contraband and display a passive alert.
Please be prepared to show identification each and every time you check out your student. It is imperative for the safety of our students that we positively identify those individuals that check out a student. We are responsable for your child and we do not take that responsibility lightly.
No! Despite the fact you have a "Carry Permit", it is unlawful to carry your weapon into any school or Muscogee County School Building. GEORGIA LAW O.C.G.A. 16-11-127.1 If you are a permit holder, your weapon must remain in a locked container in your vehicle while on School District Property.