edeloach@savannahga.gov * P.O, Box 1027 * Savannah, Georgia 31402 * (912) 651-6444 + an) Office of the Mayor Satannah, Geargia wean w, sy “na W. DeLoach Mayor July 21, 2017 Mr. Al Scott Chairman Chatham County Commission 124 Bull Street Savannah, GA 31401 Bear Chairman Scott: is with great regret that | send this leer to inform you and the rest of the Chatham County Commission that ‘Mayor and Coun of the City of Savannah have voted to terminate the merger of the Savannah-Chatham ‘Metropolitan Police Department. This follows the 21-day interval since we wrote you, the county manager and each county commissioner inquiring of your interest in continuing the merged department following the goals and direction suggested in the study by Barkshire Advisors inc. No response was forthcoming as required by the merger agreement. Mayor and Council have defined Public Safety as their top priority. We have endorsed the seven-minute response {ime Berkshire proposes and all the resources necessary to obtaln that goal. This fs not an Issue to be debated or compromised. Lives and livelihood of our community depend on it. Berkshire recommended the addition of 150 officers to provide a seven-minute response time and datailed the costs that should be allocated to each entity, Four city employees, four county employees and five police officers ‘met for more than 25 hours to guide this study. County leaders and staff were jointly involved in the selection of this consultant, the directives provided for the study and the proceedings during the study period. It was only after the results ofthe study contrasted with the expectations of the Commissian that any objections were raised. Absent your response to our Inquiry, Mayor and Council met today, Friday, July 21, and voted unanimously to move forward with a city police department separate from the consolidated department we have had since 2004. ur intention is to re-establish a Savannah Police Department second ta none, Pursuant to Paragraph 15 of our agreement, please consider this correspondence our six-month notification of termination. Chatham County should proceed with securing and having.in operation its own police protection for the unincorporated area by February 1, 2018. Aboot A Gack Chatham County Commissioners x (912) 651-6805