“Protecting the Hostess City for over 200 years” is not just a motto. Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police has a rich history. This history starts in the 1790s.
Today we stand before a place that once represented a merged force. This is the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police. The agency was the primary law enforcement for Savannah and Chatham County. That was until June 2017.
In 2005, the Savannah Police Department merged with the Chatham County Police Department. The merger aimed to resolve issues. Poor response times were a major concern. The legality of Savannah’s mayor naming the police chief was another. But after twelve years, the merger dissolved.
Now, the city is policed by the Savannah Police Department. Unincorporated parts of Chatham County are policed by the Chatham County Police Department. This began in February 2018.
Let’s journey back to the origins of policing in Savannah. In 1796, Savannah’s leaders recognized the need for patrols. A “guard and watch” was created. It consisted of 28 men commanded by a captain. This early force worked only at night. By 1812, officers wore distinctive uniforms. They had brass buttons.
Before the Civil War, Savannah’s Guard and Watch grew. In 1852, it had 86 men under Captain Francis M. Stone. By 1860, a police private earned $500 per year. During the Civil War, police were furnished with muskets. They drilled as infantry.
In June 1854, the city formed the Savannah Police Department. Officers then worked directly under the mayor. This changed in 1865. General Robert M. Anderson became Chief of Police. Anderson reorganized the Department. He created a force of 116 men.
During the 1868 election campaign, a riot broke out. Two police officers died. Samuel Bryson and R. E. Read were the first Savannah Police officers killed in the line of duty. The city purchased a burial plot for Officer Read. His grave was marked in 1999.
Just after 1900, Chatham County needed its own police department. In 1902, Fred W. Osborn asked the Chatham County Commission to establish a County Police Force. In 1912, Chatham County hired its first chief, A. P. McFarland.
Over the next century, both departments grew. They implemented modern investigation methods. Bicycles were the first wheeled vehicles used by police. Interestingly, bicycle officers were called “speeders”. Soon after, motorcycles and automobiles were introduced.
In 1924, Chatham County hired its first female police officer. Marie Bargeron was hired to arrest female suspects. She also detected places of ill repute.
In 1962, discussions began to consolidate the two police departments. In 2003, the merger was approved. On January 1, 2005, the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department was created.
Before the merger, the departments worked closely. They shared the same block on Habersham Street. The Savannah Police Barracks are still on the north corner bordering Oglethorpe Street. The Chatham County Police Department operated out of the old County Jail.
The demerger ended on February 1, 2018. The Savannah Police Department and Chatham County Police Department now operate independently.
Over two centuries, police in Savannah and Chatham County patrolled in different ways. At first, officers walked or rode horses. Later, the city provided horses and wagons. In the late 1800s, bicycles made the work easier. Today, patrol cars, motorcycles, and horses are used.
The Savannah Police Department is now led by Chief Roy Minter. The department employs about 540 officers and 90 civilian personnel. The department is a world leader in Community Oriented Policing. It has trained officers from many agencies. This includes agencies from the U.S. and foreign nations.
Here at the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police, you witness a story of evolution. You see a commitment to community. It is a story of service and sacrifice etched in Savannah’s history.