Mayor Van Johnson unveils proactive strategy to curb violent crime in 2026

by Cam McCann

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Mayor Van Johnson says overall violent crime in Savannah has fallen year-to-date and that the city will move into 2026 with a more proactive strategy: targeted policing, greater use of technology and expanded prevention programs aimed at keeping weapons and youth out of violent situations.

In a wide‑ranging, hour‑long interview with WTOC, Mayor Johnson reviewed 2025’s headline incidents — including the Oglethorpe Mall shooting and a recent acid attack — and explained why he believes the city is beginning to see progress.

“I mean not why I think, why our statistics say they are,” Johnson said. “I think it’s a variety of a couple of things, the things that we can control... We can control our police presence and our police interactions, our access and use of technology, our beats and how we respond to areas of known crime in an intelligent way. We can address those issues, we can prevent young people from being involved in crime by giving them alternatives. I’m still out here buying guns from people because I’d rather the gun be in my hands than the hands of someone that could use them.”

What the mayor says the city is doing

Adjusting patrol beats and increasing targeted police presence in areas with known crime concerns.
Expanding use of technology: surveillance, analytics and tip lines — to support faster, more effective investigations.
Investing in prevention and youth-engagement programs to reduce the pipeline into violence.
Pursuing measures to remove weapons from the streets, including buyback efforts the mayor said he has participated in.

On leadership and messaging, Johnson acknowledged he’s frequently been visible at major crime scenes this year, sometimes before police leadership.

He said that public messaging is part of the city’s communication strategy but stressed the need for balance.

“I’ve been involved in law enforcement in this community for over 30 years,” Johnson said. “I never remember an acid attack, this was totally new for us. I think as Chief Gunther continues to grow in his position he will be more outward forward facing. I’d prefer him to make sure he’s doing the work internally rather than being on tv all the time so it’s a balance.”

Why it matters

After a year of high‑profile incidents that unsettled residents, city leaders say a combination of targeted policing, prevention programs and better investigative tools is intended to sustain recent improvements while maintaining public trust.