FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 25, 2014

The City of Savannah and Chatham County today began advertising for the position of Chief of Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police, and launched a citizen survey to provide input during the selection process.

The Chief is head of a force with 833 Police officers and civilian staff, serving a population of more than 275,000. The job advertisement seeks a Chief with “strong character, integrity and leadership.”

“The Chief of the SCMPD must be a forward-thinking individual who can set objectives and the strategic direction for the department, implement innovative crime reduction and prevention strategies, leverage technology to improve the capacity of the department, and maximize crime fighting resources within the community,” the advertisement reads.

Advertising will take place in more than a dozen publications, websites and newspapers through May 16.

The selection process will include input from City and County leadership, neighborhood presidents, and key stakeholders in the faith-based and civic community. The general public will have input via a survey, which asks citizens to prioritize public safety issues, as well as the types of professional experience and personal attributes a new Police Chief should possess.

The citizen survey can be filled out online at savannahga.gov/chiefsearch beginning today and lasting through April 25. Starting Monday, March 31, citizens will also have the option of an in-person or call-in survey. Paper copies of the survey can be filled out on-site beginning March 31 at City Hall and the Broughton Municipal Building, 132 E. Broughton St. Residents can complete the survey by phone March 31-April 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling 912-525-2904.