26 new SPD officers sworn into service at badge pinning ceremony

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Savannah Police Department swore in 26 new officers and recognized 20 promotions during a badge pinning ceremony Friday.

Phillip Webster was promoted from corporal to sergeant. He said unknown interactions are what have kept him working hard and progressing as an officer.

“Whether it’s you’re going to a critical incident, mass scene or you’re changing someone’s life for the better, whether that’s taking a simple police report, obviously that’s one thing I’d like to keep going and then the camaraderie in the department, I couldn’t do it without my friends and basically family at this department,” Webster said.

Webster said his best advice for the new officers is to lean on people they are close with to get through hard days.

Keziah Green, a former Chatham County dispatcher, was among the new officers. She said she was inspired to become an officer to help people and be more active in the community.

“It was well deserved, we’ve been through a lot, it was not easy, I can say every day was scary but being able to be here with all these people, I’m really happy I’m proud of myself I’m proud of everybody else who stuck through it because it was not easy,” Green said.

Police Chief Lenny Gunther said the most important lesson for new officers is staying true to their morals and doing the right thing at all times, even when nobody is looking.