The police department that patrols North Springs High School, Riverwood International Charter School, and every other Fulton County Schools campus in Sandy Springs has earned Georgia Law Enforcement Certification, a voluntary credential requiring compliance with 139 professional standards covering use of force, body cameras, ethics, and bias-based profiling.
The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police presented the certification to the FCS Police Department at its 2026-27 Kick-Off Staff Meeting on Monday, July 13, the district announced on its official X account Thursday, July 23.
The credential arrives less than two weeks before students return. The first day of school for the 2026-27 year is Monday, August 3, according to the FCS employee work calendar.
What the certification requires
The GACP's certification program covers nine chapters of standards the association calls "essential to the efficient and effective operation of law enforcement agencies." Those chapters address use-of-force policy, body-camera requirements, early warning and intervention systems, annual use-of-force analysis, and a bias-based profiling prohibition, according to the GACP's standards manual.
Certification is voluntary. The GACP puts it bluntly on its program page: "Today, if you are not state-certified, you are a lawsuit waiting to happen!"
Agencies that earn the credential and carry liability insurance through the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency qualify for a 20% discount on premiums. The process requires an on-site assessment and multiple committee reviews before an agency receives the award.
The FCS Police Department
Chief of School Police Mark Sulborski leads the department, which was created in 1989 and now employs more than 60 officers certified by the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council, according to the district's police department page. The department is headquartered at 6201 Powers Ferry Road in Atlanta.
It falls under the FCS Department of Safety & Security, directed by Paul Hildreth, which also includes Student Health Services and Emergency Management.
North Springs High School hosts an FCS SAFE Center hub on campus that lists the Fulton Schools Police Department as a partner resource.
What families should know
The certification covers the entire FCS Police Department, meaning every campus in the district is patrolled by officers operating under the certified standards.
Families with safety concerns can reach the FCS Police Department at 470-254-0599 or the 24-hour line at 404-730-7911. Additional safety resources are available on the district's safety page.
Students at North Springs and Riverwood report for the first day of school on Monday, August 3.
