SAVE OUR SAVANNAH

New Savannah Police Crime Maps

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:39:00 -0400

Please visit the new Savannah Metropolitan Police crime mapping site.

http://savannahpd.epolicing.com/

It Is Time To Reorganize And Be Heard!

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:06:00 -0400

Article #59

July 23, 2007

Dear Members and Friends:

IT IS TIME TO REORGANIZE AND BE HEARD!

I have been remiss keeping everyone informed on the crime situation in Savannah and the undertakings of Save our Savannah. There are many excuses, lazy, work, vacation, apathy (say it ain’t so) and some health issues. Be that as it may, Save our Savannah is back and working towards a safer Savannah for everyone, everyday.

Let’s review our progress since we first started paying attention to crime in Savannah. Number one and by far the most important is the hiring of Chief Berkow. All of you that had a hand in his selection need to pat themselves on the back. I have heard very positive feedback regarding the Chief’s time in Savannah. He is implementing the changes necessary to improve our police department. Chief Berkow is working on hiring practices, physical training, department reviews, shift allocations, strengthen procedures in the evidence lock up and many more. Every indication is very positive and we believe the Chief is capable of achieving the necessary changes if politics does not raise it ugly head.

The city has promised to have the cameras in the park by the end of this year if at all possible. Progress to date is slow but moving forward. The installation of the cameras will just be the beginning of an overall plan to implement lights and cameras as part of a technology based solution to reducing crime.

Lately there has been a lot of crime news particularly in regards to gangs. That is the bad news. The good news is that the arrest rate is up 40%. Improvements have been seen in arrests, officer morale and response time that is necessary as part of the overall changes needed. Congratulations to the Chief – please keep up the good work. Let us know if Save Our Savannah can help you in any way.

Some of the things we have on our agenda for the near future are:

1. Change the name of Save Our Savannah to a more appropriate public relations name. There are approximately 800 members and we should be able to come up with something more suitable to the changing environment. Please send in your suggestions for our new name.

2. Schedule an Advisory Board Meeting within the next three weeks. (Please advise if anyone is interested in joining the Board.)

3. Proactive contact with City and County Officials to create a plan to include, Judges, Prosecutors, Police, Parole officials and the public that will make Savannah the Safest City in the United States. Our public officials should know that we will not settle for anything less.

4. We will be joining forces with other organizations to help devise a plan to get guns out of the hands of felons. No I am not anti gun but as Rudy said, “Guns don’t belong in the hands of felons.”

5. Help with the Police Foundation – more information to come.

The most important element in making Save Our Savannah program effective is your participation. What ideas would you like to see us try to incorporate? Please call Eileen Nuzzo or me at 912-352-3800 to discuss your thoughts.

Thanks to all of you for caring about crime in Savannah and the positive ways in which to improve.

Martin

What’s at Stake for Savannah

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:07:03 -0500

12/29/06: Article 57

What’s at Stake for Savannah

Members and Friends:

Unfortunately I don’t have the answer. What is the story with Chief Berkow? Is he going to continue to be effective as Chief? Will the negative publicity change his mind about our community? What will this mean to the City of Savannah and Chatham County?

The stakes in this spectacle are huge. Prior to the information about the LA lawsuit it was almost universally accepted that Chief Berkow was the best thing to happen to the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department. We were already seeing real improvement in administration, morale and boots on the street. The Chief seemed to be everywhere. BINGO the LA lawsuit.

Now everything is in danger of falling apart. In a rush to judgment and political revenge the bureaucrats and politicians have created a lose, lose situation for Savannah. Why in the world would you request help from the GBI? Is there anyway possible a GBI contingent going to LA is going to unearth information that will damn and or exonerate Chief Berkow. Negative publicity for Savannah is what it will create. A gaggle of sheep assigning blame, establishing fallback positions and in general abdicating their responsibility. We don’t need to be casting blame we need to come together to make the best of this situation.

The reason we hired Chief Berkow is that Savannah has a crime problem. The problem has not gone away in the last 60 days. Chief Berkow has a resume that is over qualified for this position but his experience is a terrific opportunity for Savannah to hire the best in order to make our City safe again. Maybe the LA lawsuit is the reason the Chief agreed to pull up stakes, move to Georgia and take on an extremely challenging job. On the other hand, maybe he just likes a challenge. Whatever the reason, he is here now and we need to do whatever we can to support him and keep him here fighting crime. If it turns out to be more serious than it now appears, than the Mayor and Mr. Brown will have to take disciplinary action. Meanwhile, let’s please stick to the facts and assume the Chief is innocent until proven guilty. Please let’s not bury him while he is still alive.

Chief Berkow may have made some poor personal decisions but Savannah and Chatham County are crying out for his professional expertise. Without the Chief we will go backwards another year and who knows how many more will suffer home invasion, rape, murder, robbery, thief, intimidation and general lawlessness.

A safer Savannah for everyone, everyday, everywhere. You may think your opinion doesn’t matter but you can help shape a safer Savannah by letting others know how you feel. You may not agree with me, fine – but suggest a better idea. Your thoughts and comments are what make SOS such a valuable tool to help fight crime.

Thanks

Martin

SOS and City of Savannah Partnership that appeared on WTOC

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:13:00 -0500

Savannah Morning News Article on Cameras Downtown

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 17:36:00 -0500

“Surveillance cameras could go up in Savannah’s historic squares”
Please read this important article about the SOS and City of Savannah partnership that appeared in the Savannah Morning News on 11/26/06.

Please also read the proposed details of the agreement.

SOS and City of Savannah Partnership Downtown Crime Prevention Camera Project Article 50

View the latest activity on SOS

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:17:00 -0500

Click for SOS Weekly Newsletters

Be sure to read

Speech introducing SOS to the Downtown Rotary by Dicky Mopper Article 51

SOS Projects

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 08:57:00 -0400

Please click here to view the three SOS Projects needing volunteers & committees.

Police Departmental Review

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 12:31:00 -0500

As you have surely seen on the news and in the paper, the Police Department has decided to invest in a professional audit of the department, in an effort to improve the safety of our community and the confidence of our citizens. Please click on the link below to read the memorandum from City Manager Michael Brown, as well as a detailed outline & description of the Departmental Review Project. The detailed article highlights goals, methodology, and criteria, and also includes biographies and background information on the two groups performing the study; the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at University of Georgia, and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).

Police Departmental Review

Public Safety Priority

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 17:26:00 -0500

Please follow this link to view the Public Safety Priority Presentation mentioned in Article 19, sent to membership March 10, 2006.

Public Safety Priority Presentation

Police Chief Recruitment & Selection

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 11:06:00 -0500

Please view this Police Chief Recruitment & Selection Memorandum, recently released by the SCMPD.

If you’d like to offer some feedback concerning the selection, please fill out this SURVEY, the results of which will be utilized by the recruitment firm, the Citizens Advisory Panel, the City Manager and the County Manager in their evaluation of the candidates.

Click Here for a copy of the survey in pdf format for easy printing.

You can also visit the City of Savannah website and click on Savannah Chatham Police Chief Citizen Survey for the same files in .pdf or .doc format.

Or click here to view or print the survey through the SOS website, and to read a letter from Michael Brown and Russ Abolt, discussing the survey and its aims.

Mission Statement

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 16:29:00 -0500

In order for this initiative to remain driven by the citizens of Savannah, each member is welcomed to review this suggested Mission Statement for the Save Our Savannah organization. Please be encouraged to play a part in the construction of this important declaration by voicing your opinion, whether positive or critical, by emailing Martin Sullivan or by posting your comments below. Every voice deserves to be heard, and we welcome all contributions.

Possible Mission Statement:

“As a citizen-sponsored, non-profit volunteer initiative, SOS will collaboratively support and work with municipal and county government by promoting community involvement in understanding and addressing the causes of and solutions to crime on a non-partisan, non-political basis. SOS envisions a socially diverse, unified, comprehensive program for the protection and safety of all Savannah-Chatham residents and visitors.�?

Thank you for your input and your participation.

Public Safety Task Force

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 09:54:00 -0500

The Mayor’s Police Task Force Committee has researched and analyzed the SCMPD and in doing so has developed this comprehensive report in an attempt to foster crime reduction in our community.

Please review this Police Crime Report, which highlights police department organization, general observations, and possible problem areas, while offering constructive and insightful recommendations for the prevention and reduction of crime in our Savannah.

To view the Public Safety Task Force report in its entirety, please go to the City of Savannah homepage and click on “One Crime is Too Many”.

Feel free to post your views and comments by clicking on the link below.

Welcome

martinsullivan@saveoursavannah.com (SOS) — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 12:16:00 -0500

Save our Savannah is a non-profit corporation started to channel citizens input to help fight crime in Savannah and Chatham County. We are a non-partisan group looking for support from the community.

We expect to spend approximately six weeks, until mid February 2006, gathering information and developing a mission statement. During that time period our primary goal will be to increase citizen involvement with our organization. To join Save Our Savannah just send an email to Martin Sullivan

Our intention is to seek information from the Mayor and City Council, Chairman County Commissioners and Commissioners, and the Chief of Police to determine what we can do to help them fight crime. We believe that a coalition of concerned citizens and Government leaders can make a real difference.