[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6303937,"mediaKeyId","2469863-54bc91bf6898590e6ec6e361025e1b29","parentId",2469863,"title","ONEs office expands violence‑intervention team, reports 90% non‑recidivism among participants","audioSeconds",1073,"startMs",5999000,"endMs",7072000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2469863-54bc91bf6898590e6ec6e361025e1b29&start=5999&end=7072","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2469863-54bc91bf6898590e6ec6e361025e1b29/thumbnail_5999000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6303937/Savannah-City/Chatham-County/Georgia/ONEs-office-expands-violenceintervention-team-reports-90-nonrecidivism-among-participants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303937-495c56dd7723ae3ef633b29a5ec2f98d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181544&Signature=Jb~~qjkA-LJKxX-XRp0wHceLWXirPsuFFaC6W8VTSRYd0YbJum5mE9eUl-DNQzlMd92MoEIIR9mPFM6HmEPnOaGleK1IekwAhXNiLYIRtOeDOAVRmmxKwbHQ8ENT1QsFg~WmxFFSbpAgLs1lWKk~XlMh5hWluFiFzOhWlIL3tGPHByEt6SrC1ly5T-TTPph7cv~4j4DRK9K05JWPTBXCGnuj3Jr5ZPp1fHL6rFpzbMJjsGGFuqLIod1-DxYRpiFF3q6Byv0TlOVZp8QlTXonFNNwcge~nAahJfZrzy9JzavRVpkUqIrJcSPfd9R756Ormbm13vbXKvJMH0CKcNClYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Savannah","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Chief Taffney Young, director (interim) of the city's ONEs office, presented the office’s 2024 outreach and violence‑reduction work and described an expanded staff and strategy for 2025.

\"Our mission is to improve neighborhood safety through the reduction of gun and other violence among Savannah youth,\" Taffney Young said as she introduced the ONEs team and new staff additions.

Young said the ONEs team completed 104 neighborhood, school and community meetings and events in 2024, reaching about 1,947 attendees, and that the city’s 100‑Days‑of‑Summer programming reached more than 9,000 youth in 2024 (a roughly 40% increase in pool attendance compared with two years earlier). The office employed 129 youth in summer work programs and expanded neighborhood improvement teams.

The office piloted a Path Forward employment program that hired high‑risk youth and tracked outcomes through the year. Young said the pilot has had mixed results: most participants remained engaged positively, one participant was arrested, and others reengaged in nonviolent incidents, but many achieved stable employment and credentials (one 17‑year‑old received a TWIC card, purchased a vehicle and prepared to graduate high school).

On violence interruption, Young reported 58 incidents in which the ONEs team intervened; the office reached out to 115 referrals, of which 78 (about 68%) accepted services. \"After a year of effort, 90% of those who continue to work with the department have not reengaged in any violence,\" Young said. She also said eight individuals (about 10% of those engaged) reengaged in some level of violence; the office said it continues to track cases.

Young introduced Jimmy Johnson, the office’s new director with experience in Memphis violence intervention, and said the ONEs office will expand headcount from seven to ten positions with recently approved budgeted hires. The office plans to create a public dashboard to report caseloads and outcomes, start neighborhood intervention working groups in the top 10 neighborhoods for gun violence and pilot arts‑based programming for youth.

Council members and the mayor praised the ONEs work and asked for continued outreach. Mayor Johnson and several aldermen noted that public‑safety results reflect a citywide approach, including police and fire partnerships, and encouraged the office to continue community engagement and data transparency.

Ending: The ONEs office said it will scale staff, continue Path Forward employment pilots, launch a public dashboard and expand targeted street‑level intervention in the neighborhoods with the highest rates of gun violence.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Savannah City Council Workshop 2-13-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The city’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement (ONEs) described expanded summer youth programming, a pilot hiring program for high‑risk youth and a violence‑intervention effort that the office says prevented re‑engagement for roughly 90% of participants who accepted services.","taxTitle","Savannah City, Chatham County, Georgia","taxId",12640,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303942,"Savannah Fire Department cites $86 million in property saved in 2024, seeks training center funding",1212,4056000,5268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2469863-54bc91bf6898590e6ec6e361025e1b29&start=4056&end=5268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2469863-54bc91bf6898590e6ec6e361025e1b29/thumbnail_4056000.jpg","/articles/6303942/Savannah-City/Chatham-County/Georgia/Savannah-Fire-Department-cites-86-million-in-property-saved-in-2024-seeks-training-center-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303942-6a36600425c47dace2bda2391145f592/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181544&Signature=IPQL4hq6ihDa-Vq0MuoUEgTU-N7NLfvTjzlN3hxZPD1g3Z9WUm3jwf-NRkAGva5D~LYBRUxTSl3-4Ot2yFl4urFlD8bNhJZNByNcydQdv7IgXpZhm0UoLE1iN3WAy1k1GxENA3YsGLJSwBSw5coMTHr9nTs8YXb4xMLk4ztUJ4GR29Yo~YS~Do-VCQ-Y-T4M7jsgp5t2S5wGIq1q1XguXXjpoXVrwj8wR-bMPhCS-Y1XE1lr8eWYwoNd~jkY8vSVldeOBIDAdJCebtcKqUgaAC0oSI~A-ZgBzRmVFH5dzvlWsOJAE3DY1YCBc0VKWSnR80yAqbLHwej3~9PjHt2fWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Elze Kitchen, Savannah Fire Department, presented 2024 performance figures and outlined facility, equipment and training needs to City Council.

\"We are finding the honor today to be here to give our story, our performance for the year 2024,\" Chief Elze Kitchen said, noting accreditation and operational metrics.

Kitchen said Savannah Fire responded to about 13,904 calls for service in 2024, including roughly 4,800 emergency medical calls and 737 fire‑related emergencies. He said the department saved an estimated $86,000,000 in property losses by meeting response targets and that there were no fire fatalities in the year reported.

The department emphasized accreditation and ratings that affect insurance costs: Fire leadership said the department is accredited through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and noted ISO measures tied to water supply and operations. Chief Kitchen said Savannah is among a small share of accredited departments nationally.

Operational details included staffing and fleet: the department described full‑time positions, a mix of first‑out and second‑out engines, marine units, rescues and utility vehicles, and ongoing mutual aid agreements. Kitchen said the department meets NFPA response standards most of the time (the department reported meeting a 4‑minute benchmark about 92% of the time) and that EMS on‑scene arrival within roughly 3 minutes, 23 seconds occurs in about 82% of cases.

Challenges the department flagged included occupational cancer risks linked to PFAS in some turnout gear, aging facilities and the need for a dedicated training center. Kitchen said the department is pursuing a five‑year plan that would include EMT certification for rank and file and requested funding for improved PPE and facilities.

Kitchen also summarized community programs, including Camp Ignite (youth programming), community risk reduction work and public education (more than 13,000 contacts for fire safety training). He noted planned youth camps: Camp Ignite (female program) and a male companion camp, with applications expected online in May and camps running in June for youth ages 14–20.

Council members praised the department’s performance and data‑driven approach; several asked about EMS call growth and regional 9‑1‑1 capacity, and about using a city property on Eisenhower for a training center. The city manager said the site could be large enough, but would require demolition of existing structures.

Ending: Chief Kitchen said the department will publish a strategic plan to align with the city's priorities and will pursue accreditation recertification, administrative staffing for apprenticeships and improvements to scheduling and overtime tracking.","Fire Chief Elze Kitchen told council the department responded to nearly 14,000 calls in 2024, saved about $86 million in property through rapid response, reported no fire fatalities, and asked for investment in training facilities and updated PPE.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303945,"Savannah police report drop in Part 1 crimes, outline staffing and technology expansions",1765,1077000,2842000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2469863-54bc91bf6898590e6ec6e361025e1b29&start=1077&end=2842","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2469863-54bc91bf6898590e6ec6e361025e1b29/thumbnail_1077000.jpg","/articles/6303945/Savannah-City/Chatham-County/Georgia/Savannah-police-report-drop-in-Part-1-crimes-outline-staffing-and-technology-expansions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303945-4f631472de89a8d2828aa77177ca26e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181544&Signature=WimNMJtUW50gsd5jLPcaV5oVz0vzSE0mBH5ynumW3RT4qBeCRBXsWUv7LneTcMgIWWgd51JaTIbFuWzDHAAly9hHrv2SoTIpQwYe0koMRtU8v7cSB5MjwTrj1NU~9t-BnLPcNsws50G~2aCRY1m5yu3sMOCHmuq3cNb4oRYQPm9MHTx7U-O1BxR~kfP-vTUh6dI3AEx8xN6Y2yI0rDO7vLCMgbEDscdqX--04Q7pDd0IlPgDpDtRjAEid~C0LbZ~02HKIG3QDqvu5WS057kZmMkROSuYpd6K1QgkVdu39P3hSJcVL~7lb1e3gz9JRfWXMBR8Co9ezq7A~WcykEmpbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Lenny Gunther, Savannah Police Department, told the Savannah City Council that the department saw a decline in several major crime categories during 02/2024 and outlined staffing and technology plans for 2025.

\"Our vision is that we will deliver excellent law enforcement services, making Savannah an extraordinary place to live, learn, and prosper,\" Chief Lenny Gunther said as he opened the department's annual public‑safety update.

The chief said total Part 1 crimes were down about 10% compared with 02/2023 and 17% compared with 02/2022, and violent crime fell about 20% versus 02/2023. Property crime fell by roughly 7% year‑over‑year, though he noted increases in some property categories, including commercial burglary, theft from yards, other larceny and auto theft.

Gun thefts from vehicles were highlighted. \"In 02/2024, we reported 266 guns stolen from vehicles. Out of the 266, 228 were stolen from unlocked vehicles, and then 35 guns were stolen from locked vehicles,\" Gunther said, adding that stolen‑gun counts rose about 9% from 02/2023 and that guns taken from unlocked vehicles increased by about 12%.

Gunther described several operational units and results: the Community Response Team made 437 felony arrests and recovered 61 firearms in 02/2024; the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) interacted with 405 unique individuals and completed 148 follow‑ups; and Savannah Impact (SIP) reported multiple education and workforce outcomes, including 20 school visits, 35 students enrolled in a CDL class with 32 graduates, and 70 students enrolled in GED classes.

On staffing, Gunther said the department recruited 66 officers in 02/2024, including lateral hires and local recruits. \"Out of 66 officers, 52 percent were minorities,\" he said. He also described retention and recruitment measures the city has supported, including sign‑on and retention bonuses and a lateral entry program.

Technology and transparency initiatives described by Gunther include an expanded ShotSpotter deployment (expanded to 9 miles), an upcoming grant to add more than 130 camera locations, and an Axon FUSIS real‑time crime center that will connect about 250 city camera systems to a single interface. He said the department is working with IT to launch public dashboards in the second quarter that will display crime statistics, clearance rates and traffic information, and encouraged residents to register cameras at keepssavannahsafe.org.

Assistant Chief Devon Adams described community programs and said a men's SIP program is expected to start in March. \"We've already partnered with Hubert Middle School, [STEM Academy] and community partners,\" Adams said in response to a council question about youth engagement.

Council members praised the department's diversity and community outreach. Alderman Mila Blakely thanked police for work with the district attorney's office on an expungement event and for the mental health clinician hire, and asked how community members can engage young people in SIP programs.

No formal vote or ordinance related to the police presentation was taken during the workshop portion covered in the transcript. Council members expressed continued support for staffing and technology investments.

Ending: Council members asked for follow‑up details on outcomes tied to the Behavioral Health Unit and neighborhood camera partnerships. Gunther and assistant chiefs indicated they would provide additional data to council on follow‑up cases and on the community camera registration program.","Police leaders told the Savannah City Council that total Part 1 crimes fell about 10% year‑over‑year and described staffing gains, behavioral‑health outreach and planned expansions of cameras and real‑time analytics.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

ONEs office expands violence‑intervention team, reports 90% non‑recidivism among participants

Savannah Fire Department cites $86 million in property saved in 2024, seeks training center funding

Savannah police report drop in Part 1 crimes, outline staffing and technology expansions