Savannah Police addresses ‘use of force’ with community session

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -Days after a deadly officer-involved shooting in Savannah, city leaders say they’re taking a different approach to a topic that often fuels public debate: use of force.

Friday night, the Savannah Police Department launched “Behind the Badge,” a community education series aimed at building trust by walking residents through how officers are trained and how split-second decisions are evaluated.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said the sessions are designed to create direct dialogue between the public and law enforcement, with the goal of helping residents better understand what officers face in the field.

The first session focused on use of force and included lessons on the Fourth Amendment, a review of court cases and an opportunity for questions from the community.

“It’s an opportunity to have our public interact with law enforcement professionals to really talk about the various things officers deal with,” Johnson said. “A kind of a deeper dive that we’re used to.”

Attendees also took part in an interactive virtual reality simulator — technology police say mirrors scenarios officers can encounter in rapidly evolving situations and highlights the decision-making process behind when force is used and when it is not.

Savannah resident Keyshawn Housey said the session gave participants a clearer understanding of SPD’s policies and why officers are often forced to make immediate choices.

“I think this was a really good opportunity for the residents to learn about how Savannah PD operates,” Housey said. “Thinking about the fact that a lot of the work that they do often involves split-second decisions.”

Outside the Savannah Police Department Training Center, a small protest formed Friday night, with demonstrators responding to Tuesday morning’s deadly shooting of Nicholaus Oxendine involving two Savannah police officers.

“It’s a really horrible epidemic in the United States,” protester Mary Golik said. “I think the number one thing that we want, in my words, is safe streets. We want safety.”

Johnson emphasized the “Behind the Badge” session was planned weeks in advance and said people have a right to peacefully protest as the investigation continues. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting.

Savannah Police Chief Lenny Gunther said he hopes residents leave the session knowing the department is open to criticism and wants feedback.

“We’re open to criticism, we’re open to their concerns,” Gunther said. “We want to hear how we can do better when it comes to this topic and how we can gain their trust.”

A second “Behind the Badge” session is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Savannah Police Department Training Center.