Atlanta, GA - Today, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced that the Georgia Department of Agriculture has successfully regained its status as a Law Enforcement agency. Commissioner Harper has tapped Harlan Proveaux, a twenty-nine-year law enforcement and emergency management veteran with experience across multiple state and local agencies, to serve as the Department's new Inspector General and Director of the Department's Law Enforcement & Emergency Management Division. The Department has historically operated with a law enforcement capacity; however, the Department's Law Enforcement Division was disbanded in 2013 by the prior administration. Immediately upon taking office, Commissioner Harper and Director Proveaux began the process to have the Department's Peace Officer Standards and Training Council ID reinstated, restoring the Department's status as a Law Enforcement agency.
"I am proud to announce the Georgia Department of Agriculture has regained our status as a Law Enforcement Agency, restoring a critical function of the Department and enabling us to better serve farmers, producers, and consumers across the state," said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. "I'm also pleased to announce that Harlan Proveaux has joined the Department as our new Inspector General and Director of the Law Enforcement & Emergency Management Division. Director Proveaux brings decades of experience in Law Enforcement and Emergency Management, and he has my full support and confidence as we work together to rebuild and restore this critical division within the Department."
"I'm incredibly excited to join the Georgia Department of Agriculture as Inspector General and Director of the Law Enforcement & Emergency Management Division," said Inspector General and Director of the Department's Law Enforcement & Emergency Management Division Harlan Proveaux. "I've known Commissioner Harper for more than ten years, through his past service as Senate Public Safety Committee Chair, and I look forward to working with the Commissioner and existing GDA staff to rebuild our Law Enforcement Division and strengthen the Department's emergency management operations and response capabilities."
Commissioner Tyler Harper Swears in Director Harlan Proveaux.
Prior to joining the Department, Proveaux served as the Deputy Director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency for seven years. Proveaux has served at several other state and local agencies including Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Ware County Magistrate Court, and Ware County Sheriff's Office and holds a Master's Degree in Public Safety Administration from Columbus State University.
Restoring the Department's Law Enforcement & Emergency Management Division to its full capacity will enable the Department to better serve farmers, producers, and consumers across Georgia. Georgia Department of Agriculture Officers will assist local, state, and federal agencies with a wide range of investigations from Animal Cruelty to Labor and Drug Trafficking to Agro-Terrorism, while also working to improve safety and security at the State Farmers Markets throughout Georgia. At the same time, strengthening our Emergency Management operations and response capabilities will allow the Department to respond more efficiently, effectively, and rapidly in the event of a natural disaster, severe weather event, or animal disease outbreak.
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