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Savannah police report drop in Part 1 crimes, outline staffing and technology expansions
Summary
Police leaders told the Savannah City Council that total Part 1 crimes fell about 10% year‑over‑year and described staffing gains, behavioral‑health outreach and planned expansions of cameras and real‑time analytics.
Chief Lenny Gunther, Savannah Police Department, told the Savannah City Council that the department saw a decline in several major crime categories during 02/2024 and outlined staffing and technology plans for 2025.
"Our vision is that we will deliver excellent law enforcement services, making Savannah an extraordinary place to live, learn, and prosper," Chief Lenny Gunther said as he opened the department's annual public‑safety update.
The chief said total Part 1 crimes were down about 10% compared with 02/2023 and 17% compared with 02/2022, and violent crime fell about 20% versus 02/2023. Property crime fell by roughly 7% year‑over‑year, though he noted increases in some property categories, including commercial burglary, theft from yards, other larceny and auto theft.
Gun thefts from vehicles were highlighted. "In 02/2024, we reported 266 guns stolen from vehicles. Out of the 266, 228 were stolen from unlocked vehicles, and then 35 guns were stolen from locked vehicles," Gunther said, adding that stolen‑gun counts rose about 9% from 02/2023 and that guns taken from unlocked vehicles increased by about 12%.
Gunther described several operational units and results: the Community Response Team made 437 felony arrests and recovered 61 firearms in 02/2024; the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) interacted with 405 unique individuals and completed 148 follow‑ups; and Savannah Impact (SIP) reported multiple education and workforce outcomes, including 20 school visits, 35 students enrolled in a CDL class with 32 graduates, and 70 students enrolled in GED classes.
On staffing, Gunther said the department recruited 66 officers in 02/2024, including lateral hires and local recruits. "Out of 66 officers, 52 percent were minorities," he said. He also described retention and recruitment measures the city has supported, including sign‑on and retention bonuses and a lateral entry program.
Technology and transparency initiatives described by Gunther include an expanded ShotSpotter deployment (expanded to 9 miles), an upcoming grant to add more than 130 camera locations, and an Axon FUSIS real‑time crime center that will connect about 250 city camera systems to a single interface. He said the department is working with IT to launch public dashboards in the second quarter that will display crime statistics, clearance rates and traffic information, and encouraged residents to register cameras at keepssavannahsafe.org.
Assistant Chief Devon Adams described community programs and said a men's SIP program is expected to start in March. "We've already partnered with Hubert Middle School, [STEM Academy] and community partners," Adams said in response to a council question about youth engagement.
Council members praised the department's diversity and community outreach. Alderman Mila Blakely thanked police for work with the district attorney's office on an expungement event and for the mental health clinician hire, and asked how community members can engage young people in SIP programs.
No formal vote or ordinance related to the police presentation was taken during the workshop portion covered in the transcript. Council members expressed continued support for staffing and technology investments.
Ending: Council members asked for follow‑up details on outcomes tied to the Behavioral Health Unit and neighborhood camera partnerships. Gunther and assistant chiefs indicated they would provide additional data to council on follow‑up cases and on the community camera registration program.
