NCJ Number
181390
Date Published
1998
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Community policing in Savannah, Georgia is discussed with respect to developments prior to 1991, the impact of the 1991 mayoral campaign, the role of the city manager, and recent progress in making the Savanna Police Department a community-oriented agency and moving it forward in its problem solving efforts.
Abstract
The Savannah Police Department's community programs prior to 1991 included the Showcase Neighborhood Program in 1987, the establishment of ministations in public housing developments in 1988, and experiments with bicycle and horse patrols. City Manager Arthur Mendonsa has served in the position since 1962 and has taken an active role in managing the police department, primarily by making suggestions for planning. Mendonsa also gathered staff from the police and other agencies to produce a 1991 report called the Comprehensive Community Crime Control Strategy. Changes recommended and implemented include decentralizing the police department, increased interaction with the community, the establishment of community policing and problem-oriented policing, a differential response system, and improved analytical capabilities. Problem-oriented policing is now a cornerstone of community policing in Savannah. The Police Department has been actively involved in developing organizational support structures to expand the concepts of problem-oriented policing and community policing. The police department has also worked actively to develop a supportive external environment for its proactive response. The agency also has several goals for expanding the program in the future.