The Savannah-Chatham police department’s Central Precinct will initiate its second set of a crime reduction program being called Roll Call on June 1.
Officers will gather that Saturday at a city-owned shopping center at Waters Avenue and West 36th Street at 2:30 p.m. Patrol officers will be accompanied by mounted patrol, K-9 parol and a police helicopter.
Police spokesman Julian Miller said the event is similar to the Roll Calls in the Street held last year, except the Saturday schedule is designed to allow more members of the community to participate and see the department’s resources.
Last year, Central Precinct’s commander, Capt. DeVonn Adams, began the practice as part of a program to take special steps to reduce the traditional increase in crime over the summer months when many young people are out of school.
The roll calls, beginning the afternoon shift, were held in popular public areas throughout the precinct. In addition, Central Precinct officers delayed vacations and extra days off for the 90-day period so that more feet could be on the ground until school started back. Special operation units such as K-9s, mounted patrols, bicycle patrols and the helicopter were used in the precinct’s neighborhoods.
Miller said that corresponded with a 30 percent reduction in crime last summer, allowing the traditionally challenged precinct to show an 11.9 percent drop in violent crime and a 25.4 percent drop in property crime.
The June 1 event is open to the public.