Article 30 April 14, 2006

Dear Members and Friends:

Congratulations on getting together and making a difference with our crime problem. It was just 3 months ago that we started to get organized and began to learn about the real crime in Savannah. Certainly, your participation has helped to keep the spotlight on crime and resulted in many changes for the good of our community.

Some positive changes we have seen since the first of the year include:

    · An increase in citizen awareness

    · The publication and distribution of the Task Force on Public Safety’s Police Crime Report

    · A positive Police response for change

    · A push to add more police to our force

    · The start of a search for the best qualified police chief available

    · An increase in pay for new hires at the police department

    And, perhaps the most important…

    · A dialogue between the police, the politicians and the people.

As we have said from the beginning, SOS supports our Police Department 110%. We want to continue to encourage an open dialogue among all of the players so that we have a united front on crime and crime prevention. There are 400 bad guys in Savannah and they commit 80% of the crime. The criminals are no longer afraid of the police and they believe crime does pay. We need to continue to work together and do whatever it takes to clean up our streets for you, your children, grandchildren and visitors to our great city. We have had a good start but we need to do much more!

We have come up with a list of projects which we need volunteers’ help with to accomplish. People are continuing to die from crime in Savannah. We cannot stop it completely, but with your help we can reduce it dramatically. SOS will act as a bridge to efficiently work towards a safer Savannah for Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday.

PROJECTS NEEDING VOLUNTEERS

1. The first project is funding. I know nothing about SPLOST but it seems to me that Public Safety is the number one priority. We need to get a good group working on the project to help raise at least 12 or 15 million for crime reduction this year. The funds will be spread over a number of projects.

2. Hiring the best Chief available has ‘super priority’ status. None of the letters to the editor, emails or meetings will amount to a hill of beans if we don’t hire a leader. The morale of the department is low and turnover is heavy – we need a new chief and reorganization. This will be an immediate project helping to ensure not only that the current search continues on track, but also, after the new chief is hired, we will need to have ongoing communication regarding what is happening in our community. Those closest to the problem off er the best solutions. We need to maintain that ongoing communication with our police department.

3. Technology – full speed ahead: The Savannah Camera Project and, ultimately, expansion to include surveillance in all areas of the city and, where needed, in the county. Computers for the officers and special car computers that can recognize stolen cars within three seconds. This project includes lighting as well. All of our squares should be well lit and safe for walking. We need to examine new technology, i.e. what systems and processes can be implemented that can save time. We need to supply the police department with the best equipment available. SPLOST funds could help us complete this project in less than two years and immediately have a big impact on crime.

4. Chatham County Juvenile Assessment Center. This idea also needs funding immediately. The draft of the program is on our web site. Juvenile crime is one of our largest challenges. The mission of the Juvenile Assessment Center is to enhance public safety and improve service delivery through coordination and cooperation among juvenile court, department of juvenile justice, elected officials and other governmental bodies and agencies responsible for prevention, early intervention and diversion services for youth and their families. This idea is one of our major projects and will need many volunteers.

5. Web site links and development. SOS will establish a central web site with crime related activities. This should be a comprehensive list with the goal of providing the public with comprehensive crime information all in one place.

6. Contact & collaborate with Neighborhood Watch Associations. This will help SOS keep its pulse on the crime in the city and county and will ensure that SOS keeps a diverse membership. Forge alliances with Democrats and Republicans parties to support crime reduction. This committee will also be responsible for increasing membership.

7. Police Department and local college and university collaboration. Open a dialogue between those who focus on the science and those who focus on the practice of fighting crime.

8. Clean up the crime in public housing. As Chief Greenberg said, public housing should be the safest place in the city. The committee will need to identify the players, review the current situation and propose improvements. Again, we should be able to establish a two-way communication that will be beneficial to all parties.

9. We need to be aware of City Council and Chatham County Commissioners meetings. We need a presence. They need to know that we care what they do and what priorities they establish. Our priority is public safety and that is something we want everyone to understand. Everyone front and center until we convince the bad guys that it does not pay to commit crime in Savannah.

10. Education, victim assistance, and training on how the system works. This is the committee that will always ensure that SOS keeps on track and is on a continuing education plan. Help review progress on individual projects and activity of each committee, as well as determine how that project fits into the overall criminal justice system.

I am very excited to finally announce that we are doing something besides jawboning. SOS needs volunteers. As we move forward, there is no rule that prevents us from changing projects, adjusting projects, adding projects or whatever the membership would like. However, if we are going to be successful we need to move forward and engage the bureaucrats, and convince them that we are able and willing to help reduce crime.

If you would like to volunteer for one of the above projects, please email rebecca@saveoursavannah.com. Include in your message both the title of the project you would like to participate in as well as contact information. Lists will be generated and volunteers contacted based on response through email.

The success or failure of Save our Savannah now depends on your taking an active role. We look forward to helping create an effective crime fighting organization in Savannah that will help us all say “COME TO SAVANNAH—IT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND SAFEST CITY IN THE WORLD.â€?

Thanks Happy Easter Martin Sullivan