University Police are essentially glorified security guards, right?

Well, only if average security guards can boast of Special Response Teams trained to handle hostage situations or Bomb Disposal Teams that have handled security at the Peach Bowl and Marine One – the United States President’s boat.

University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said when it comes to normal police powers such as powers of arrest, there are no differences between the University Police and any other police force.

“I tell people to look at [the University] as kind of a city,” he said. “There’s no special jail, no special court system.”

Because of the University’s vast size, Williamson said it’s important for his department to be prepared for the worst.

“Our daily population is knocking on the door of 50,000,” Williamson said. “There’s no part of the world that’s immune from a shooting.”

Williamson said just like any other city, his force works closely with the police in surrounding areas.

“We do everything we can to merge as one,” he said.

For example, if the Athens-Clarke County police station burned down, the University police station would be available for their use and vice versa, he said.

Alongside the standard Criminal Investigation Division, Patrol Division and administrative divisions, the University Police have several teams:

Special Response

The Special Response Team is comprised of an entry team and a marksman team. Each officer must be highly proficient with specialized weaponry and attend training courses for weapon proficiency and team tactics.

Bomb Disposal

Trained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Defense, the Bomb Disposal Team is the primary bomb response team for Northeast Georgia. The team is made up of bomb technicians, K-9 handlers and explosive detection dogs.

Crowd Control

The Crowd Control Team is made up of officers from various divisions within the University Police Department.

This team frequently trains in crowd control tactics and assisted during the 2004 G8 Conference.

Crime Prevention

Using printed information and live demonstrations, the Crime Prevention Unit educates people about the safety of their property and themselves. Several of these safety programs are free for participants.

For more information visit police.uga.edu.