How Savannah Police Keeps A History-Filled City Safe for Residents and Visitors Alike

Law enforcement is one of the oldest professions still around, and that is clearly visible at Savannah Police Department. The sworn officers in this coastal Georgia city occupies the country's oldest working police station, full of photos of historical moments in the department's 200+ years of existence.

Savannah Police also oversee a jurisdiction full of history. Savannah is one of the top tourist destinations in the country, welcoming millions of visitors each year.

"We get a lot of people coming from all over the place, a lot of diversity, all to see the beauty of the city," said Police Major Robert Gavin, one of the leaders on a force of over 500 sworn officers.

To ensure Savannah's residents and visitors are safe while enjoying the beauty of the city, the department has adopted 21st century policing strategies. That includes the use of cutting-edge technologies like Flock Safety's automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras.

"There's a lot of things we've been doing over the past years to bring our technology forward," he said.

Major Gavin appreciated that Flock Safety ALPR cameras are aesthetically-pleasing and blend in with the city's hanging oaks and cobblestone-lined streets. The system is easy for officers to learn and use, he says, and work well in an area where they often overlap with other agencies. Nearby Chatham County and Pooler Police also use the Flock Safety system, and they all help each other solve crime.

Part of Savannah PD's strength is also strong community partnerships forged over decades. The Flock Safety system allows Savannah PD to extend those partnerships with technology, as many Savannah neighborhoods, HOAs, and businesses have also purchased the cameras to assist law enforcement.

"We're trying to continue that community-government partnership. Crime and crimefighting is not just a police problem, it's a community problem," said Major Gavin.