---
title: O.C.G.A. § 35-10-2. Declaration of public purpose.
collection: code
id: 35-10-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 35-10-2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-10-2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-10-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-10-2/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t35-t36-ch1-59-(v27)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=66569db4_0#page=311
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-10.md
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES / MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENTS’ NOMENCLATURE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 35-10-2. Declaration of public purpose.

It is declared to be contrary to the health, safety, and public welfare of the people of this state for any individual or organization to act in a manner which would mislead the public into believing that a member of the public is dealing with any municipal or county police department or with a member thereof when in fact the individual or organization is not the municipal or county police department or a member thereof. Furthermore, the municipal or county police department, which has provided quality law enforcement services to the citizens of this state, has established a name for excellence in its field. This name should be protected for the department, its members, and the citizens of this state. Therefore, no person or organization should be allowed to use any municipal or county police department’s name or any term used to identify the department or its members without the expressed permission of the local governing authority. The provisions of this chapter are in furtherance of the promotion of this policy.

## History

Code 1981, § 35-10-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 445, § 1.