---
title: O.C.G.A. § 36-8-5. Powers generally.
collection: code
id: 36-8-5
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 36-8-5 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/36-8-5
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/36-8-5.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/36-8-5/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=435
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/36-8.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: LOCAL GOVERNMENT / Provisions Applicable to Counties Only / COUNTY POLICE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 36-8-5. Powers generally.

Under the direction and control of the county governing authority, the county police shall have:

(1) The same power to make arrests and to execute and return criminal warrants and processes in the county of their election or appointment only, as sheriffs have; and

(2) All the powers of sheriffs as peace officers in the county of their election or appointment.

## History

Ga. L. 1909, p. 156, § 3; Civil Code 1910, § 851; Ga. L. 1914, p. 142, § 3; Code 1933, § 23-1403; Ga. L. 1961, p. 217, § 1.