Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools officials announced changes after a third-party review of the district's Board of Education Police Department (BOEPD) and human resources division identified opportunities to strengthen internal affairs, evidence management and coordination between the two offices. Chief Terry Enoch and HR leaders said several procedural reforms are already underway.

The external reviewers, Louis Detmar and Steve Heaton, conducted interviews across the district and produced findings the district characterized as guidance for improvement, not blame. Superintendent Dr. Denise Watts said the report has been used as a compass for change and that some corrective steps began before the final report was issued.

"The findings were not about fault. They were about focus, ensuring that BOEPD remains a model of school based policing and community trust," Chief Terry Enoch said. He told reporters the review confirmed areas of strength and pointed to specific opportunities including internal affairs procedures, coordination with human resources, evidence management and organizational accountability.

Enoch outlined reforms the department has already begun implementing: establishing clearer internal affairs protocols with defined timelines and accountability measures; strengthening collaboration with the district's human resources office on hiring, promotions and disciplinary processes; updating supervisory practices and organizational structure; enhancing evidence management through regular inspections and annual audits; and launching a leadership development initiative aimed at improving morale and professionalism.

A representative of the human resources team said HR has been working closely with BOEPD to clarify functional roles and to strengthen recruitment and fair hiring practices. "We are putting processes in place," the HR representative said, adding that collaboration on recruitment and consistent processes is ongoing.

Superintendent Dr. Denise Watts described the reviews as part of a broader effort to "hold up a mirror" across departments and to strengthen internal controls. She said the district will continue to review procedures and that the BOEPD's reforms are intended to improve transparency and service.

The district said two external reviewers led the audit: Louis Detmar, described in the presentation as an investigator with more than 41 years of law enforcement experience, and Steve Heaton, who has experience in policing and human resources practices. The district said an executive summary of the review is available on request.

District leaders declined to provide a count of active internal investigations during the briefing; Dr. Watts said she did not know the number offhand. She also said some operational changes began as early indications of findings emerged and before the formal report was completed.

Officials said the audit is intended to align people, processes and leadership to meet the needs of a growing district and to strengthen public trust, and they pledged continued updates as reforms proceed.