Standing just feet from Habersham Street, Savannah-Chatham police Sgt. Jeron Young addressed the three rows of uniformed police officers lined up in the Habersham Village parking lot.
Many of the officers scribbled notes as Young advised them about a recent string of vehicle break-ins during the Central Precinct’s pre-shift meeting at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
It was the second time the officers held the meeting in public as part of Precinct Commander Capt. DeVonn Adams’ “Roll Call in the Streets” initiative that aims to bring police officers and the people they serve together. Every two weeks Adams will host the meeting in a different neighborhood within the precincts’ district.
“It’s just an opportunity for the community to see the resources that we have available for them and what they are getting,” Adams said. “It’s good for public perception. A lot of people, they watch TV, they read things, and we just want them to come out here and get a, kind of, up-close and personal feeling of the officers that serve them in their community, so they understand that they’ve taken an oath to protect and serve them and try to improve their quality of life.”
A few people glanced interestedly at the scene as they walked by the lot, but Savannah District 4 Alderman Mary Ellen Sprague watched intently.
“People in the community like to see their police officers,” Sprague said. “Public safety and security is absolutely No. 1 with me, and I can say with absolute sincerity, (it is No. 1 with) the entire council.”