Today the City of Savannah’s Police Transition Team presented the plans for a new Savannah Police Department (SPD) at a City Council Workshop. The presentation including the unveiling on a new shoulder patch for the officers, badge, uniform hat, vehicle decals and new precincts and substations.
The SPD’s new patch incorporates the City’s skyline, highlighting the gold dome of City Hall and the Savannah River. It also includes the established date of the department which dates back to 1854.
The new badge features City Hall and also includes the year the department was originally created.
The SPD would utilized white cars and SUVs to respond to calls for service. The vehicle decals would also showcase the City’s skyline and would include the SPD’s website.
Officers would wear the same navy blue uniform pants and shirts, however they will wear the traditional, less expensive and more practical eight point police hat instead of the current campaign hat.
Following today’s workshop at the City Council meeting, Mayor Eddie DeLoach and the Aldermen approved four lease agreements for a new Eastside police precinct, two substations and new Downtown police precinct/Forensics facility.
The Eastside Precinct will be located at 2250 E. Victory Drive, just west of Skidaway Road.
The existing Downtown Precinct will include the area of the airport and Savannah Highlands. Due to this geographic land expansion, there is a new for a police substation which will be located at 1150 Armstead Road, near the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport.
The Downtown Precinct will be moving to the old Great Dane building at 601 E. Lathrop Ave. This facility will also likely house the Forensics Unit, Traffic Unit, and Records Management.
The existing Southside Precinct will now include land annexed into the City to the south and west. The substation for Southside Precinct will be located at 11 Gateway Blvd. in the outlet mall near I-95 and Highway 204.