Areas
Crowd Control
Universities are not immune from civil disorder, and the University of Georgia Police Department maintains a Crowd Control Team to assist in restoring order when necessary. Colorado, Minnesota, Maryland, West Virginia, Indiana, and Arizona are only a handful of states that have experienced rioting at their universities. The catalyst for such behavior varies and can include protesting local or foreign affairs, changes in university policy, and athletics.
The size of the University of Georgia, its tolerance of a variety of viewpoints, and its successful athletic programs promote large gatherings of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Large crowds have the potential to become disorderly if a flashpoint is reached based on any of the previously mentioned catalysts. When this happens, the Crowd Control Team can be an effective means of restoring calm and preserving safety.
The Crowd Control Team is comprised of sworn officers from all divisions within the department. Each officer has immediate access to protective equipment and trains frequently in crowd control tactics. Officers with the Crowd Control Team are capable of responding to a variety of behaviors and have the ability to expand on these roles. In 2004, the Crowd Control Team was asked to assist during the G8 Conference held at Sea Island, Georgia. In support of Georgia’s quest to host a successful conference, the University of Georgia Police Department’s Crowd Control Team was assigned as a response team at one of the most critical sites during the G8 Conference—the Multiple Agency Command Center located at the St. Simons airport.
