Chatham County Sheriff launches Operation Sweet Dreams at Frazier Homes

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Residents at Frazier Homes may have noticed increased law enforcement presence in their area over the weekend. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office rolled out a new safety initiative called Operation Sweet Dreams.

Deputies patrolled the neighborhood from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. over the weekend. The operation launched one week after two people were killed and two others injured in a shooting in the neighborhood.

Sheriff touts early results

Sheriff Richard Coleman shared news of the initiative on social media.

“Several nights of resting, not worrying about violence, not worrying about gunshots, a safe community, the sheriff had your back,” Coleman said.

Residents call for more youth programs

Frazier Homes resident Katherine Reed said the rise in violence has alarmed families in the area.

“I know a lot of us mothers out here are scared to let our kids be outside,” Reed said.

Reed said she hopes the patrols will help reduce gun violence in the neighborhood. She also called for expanded programming for young people.

“If there were more programs for these kids to do during the day instead of walking around and terrorizing everyone else,” Reed said.

City and county respond with infrastructure upgrades

Alderman Detric Leggett said increased lighting and cameras have been installed at the complex in response to community concerns.

“For the people who are here, the people who have grown up here, people who have invested their families here, we owe it to you to make sure that you have a good place to live and a good quality of life,” Leggett said.

Operation could expand to other neighborhoods

Operation Sweet Dreams began after residents contacted the Sheriff’s Office requesting increased patrols. Coleman said the program may extend beyond Frazier Homes.

“We even got calls from other communities saying, ‘Sheriff, we want Operation Sweet Dreams in our community, can you come to us?’ Yes we will,” Coleman said.

Coleman said the community needs to work together to find permanent solutions to systemic violence.