Richmond County Sheriff's Office Divisions
It takes organization, skill and teamwork to successfully provide law enforcement in an area the size of Richmond County. The Sheriff's Office is made up of nine divisions and numerous specialized teams commanded by dedicated and highly-skilled personnel with years of experience in law enforcement.
The most visible of these divisions is Field Operations, the public face of the agency. This division operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and its deputies are the first responders to crimes committed within the physical boundaries of Richmond County. Field Operations deputies provide emergency response in life threatening situations and non-emergency assistance to a variety of criminal, traffic, medical and civil matters as well as natural disasters that may impact the overall quality of life. This division also manages several specialized teams.
The Traffic Division was established by Sheriff Roundtree with the goal of reducing traffic accident and pedestrian deaths through strict enforcement of traffic laws and through education. Traffic enforcement in Richmond County is now data driven and the Traffic Division will concentrate on specific problem areas within the county where there are high incidents of violations or accidents occurring. Mike Padgett Highway, Bobby Jones Expressway and Interstate 20 top the list.
The Court Security Division provides security for Superior, State, Domestic and Juvenile courts, as well as all full and part-time judges and their staffs. Deputies are stationed inside each courtroom whenever a court is in session. The Augusta Judicial Center and John H. Ruffin Courthouse is located at 735 James Brown Blvd. and the Juvenile Justice facility is located at 901 Broad Street.
The Criminal Investigations Division is responsible for investigating all detailed crimes and major cases such as Homicide, Rapes, Robberies, Burglaries, and other crime trend incidents. CID personnel also conduct crime scene processing, photography, and forensic evidence gathering and handling. Duties of the investigators in this division include the apprehension of offenders, recovery of stolen property, preparation of cases for court prosecutions, out of state extraditions and the presentation of evidence in high level court cases. Detectives are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on a rotational basis, to respond to emergency investigative needs but are normally available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to provide assistance when needed.
The Community Services Division was created by Sheriff Roundtree to promote citizen participation in the reduction and prevention of crime through education, and to provide educational and safety related programs based on community needs. The Community Services Division has implemented numerous policies and programs designed to achieve its goal of involving the community in making Richmond County and safer place to live and work.
The Jails Division operates two jail facilities, the Charles B. Webster Detention Center and the Richmond County Jail. The Jails Division staff serves the courts, other law enforcement agencies, inmates, the families of inmates and crime victims. The mission of the Jails Division staff is to provide for the safe, secure and constitutional confinement of individuals committed to the custody of these facilities, either to await trial or upon sentencing of the court, and to attempt to ensure that all inmates are treated impartially and in accordance with the established laws of the United States and the State of Georgia.
The Professional Standards and Training Divisions is tasked with many functions. OPST is responsible for all training, oversight of the Field Training Program, collaboration with the Detention Center for its Jail Training Program, Georgia State Certification, & CALEA accreditation. It is the driving force behind the office's certification and accreditation efforts.
The Management Services Division is a support unit that provides an array of services to residents of Richmond County and employees of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. Services include administrative, human resources, budget and finance, special duty assignments, evidence, property, Quartermaster services, and records management.
The Internal Affairs Division serves as an instrument of internal accountability by receiving, processing, and investigating complaints concerning employee conduct. These complaints include alleged violations of Office Policy and/or Criminal Law and may originate from outside sources or from within the Agency. This division also manages Public Information for the Sheriff's Office.