Recruiting & Retention Unit

Purpose
The City of Savannah and the Savannah Police Department (SPD) implemented the Police Officer Retention Incentive Program to enhance SPD’s ability to recruit new Officers and retain current employees at the rank of Police Officer. Team Savannah and SPD recognize the importance of retaining experienced Police Officers who carry out the incredible task of the keeping our community safe.

Effective Date
The Police Officer Retention Incentive Program is effective Monday, February 6, 2023. Eligible Officers may begin to enroll in the program on or after the program’s effective date. The commitment agreement form will be available via MySavannah or the Office of Human Resources (HR) effective Monday, February 6, 2023. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) will be available on MySavannah by Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

Eligibility
The program is voluntary and eligible Officers are responsible for completing the required steps to enroll in the program.
Qualified Officers must:
• have three (3) or more consecutive years of service from their most recent hire date
• be at the Rank of Police Officer
• sign and submit a Two-Year Commitment Agreement
Cold Case Officers and Board of Education Officers are not eligible for the program.

Retention Incentive Distribution Schedule
For Police Officers Reaching Their 3-Year Anniversary Date on or after January 1, 2023:
1. Police Officer signs 2-year commitment agreement, then receives
a. $4000 (gross) at 3rd year anniversary date – 1st incentive payment
b. $2500 (gross) at 4th year anniversary date – 2nd incentive payment
2. Police Officer signs 2-year commitment agreement, then receives
c. $2500 (gross) at 5th year anniversary date – 3rd incentive payment
d. $2500 (gross) at 6th year anniversary date – 4th incentive payment
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For Police Officers Reaching Their 3-Year Anniversary Date on or before 12/31/2022:
1. Police Officer signs 2-year commitment agreement, then receives
a. $2500 (gross) within 45 days of signing agreement – 1st incentive payment
b. $2500 (gross) at one year anniversary of signing agreement -2nd incentive payment
2. Police Officer signs 2-year commitment agreement, then receives
c. $2500 (gross) within 45 days of signing agreement – 3rd incentive payment
d. $2500 (gross) at one year anniversary of signing agreement – 4th incentive payment
Incentive payments are processed monthly. Therefore, Officers must allow up to 45 days for administrative processing after submitting their signed agreement. The retention incentive will be paid separately from the employee’s biweekly payroll check. If you do not receive your expected incentive payment within 45 days of submitting your commitment agreement document to HR, then please contact Lameisha Estelle (lameisha.estelle@savannahga.gov) in the Office of Human Resources.

Enrollment Period

For Police Officers Reaching Their 3-Year Anniversary Date on or after January 1, 2023: Officers may enroll no earlier than 60 days prior to their 3-year anniversary date. If an Officer does not enroll prior to their 3-year anniversary date, they may still be eligible for the $4000 incentive payment if they enroll within 30 days after the 3-year anniversary date. If the Officer enrolls after the 30-day grace period, then they are still eligible to enroll in the program and receive the $2500 incentive payment.

For Police Officers Reaching Their 3-Year Anniversary Date on or before December 31, 2022: Officers may enroll at any time unless they are notified by SPD Command Staff or HR of their upcoming promotion. If the Officer receives confirmation of a pending promotion, they are no longer eligible to enroll in the program.

Additional Details
Officers are only eligible for a maximum of 4 incentive payments. For Officers who enrolled and started receiving payments at their 3-year anniversary date, the maximum amount they may receive will be $11,500. For Officers who enrolled and started receiving payments after their 3-year anniversary date, the maximum amount they may receive is $10,000.

If an Officer separates from employment and does not fulfill the time commitment as agreed, they must reimburse SPD the full amount of their most recent incentive payment. The amount will not be prorated. Additionally, separating officers may elect to reimburse SPD with a cash payment (to the Payroll Department) or by a deduction from their compensable leave or pension refund.
If an Officer is promoted to the rank of Corporal or above, then they are no longer eligible for the program and they will not receive future incentive payments. Additionally, they are not required to reimburse SPD for incentive payments they have already received.
Once SPD staffing levels for the rank of Police Officer reach acceptable staffing levels, the 3rd year anniversary incentive amount will be reduced from $4000 to $2500. This will occur no later than 45 days after the Office of Human Resources (HR), the Office of Management & Budget (OMB), and SPD determine the staffing levels have reached an acceptable staffing level rate and SPD Command Staff is notified. All Officers enrolling in the program after the acceptable staffing rate determination, will continue to be eligible for the $2500 annual retention incentive payment.
If you have questions not answered by this document, please contact your division commander for additional information or to submit additional questions. If additional questions are not answered by the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document related this program, the additional questions and answers will be added to the FAQ within two (2) weeks of submission.
The Police Officer Retention Incentive Program and this document are subject to change any time at the discretion of the City of Savannah and the Savannah Police Department.

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The SPD Recruiting Unit will maintain an internship program for students pursuing a career in law enforcement designed to allow them to gain an insight into the law enforcement profession. Interns must agree to complete a Criminal History Background Investigation, the Criminal Justice Privacy Agreement, and a Ride-Along Release Form (SPD Form # 1042w) before they can be considered for an internship. Interns will generally be from the following schools:

• Georgia Southern University
• Saint Leo University
• Savannah State University
• South State University
• Other schools as approved by the Office of Professional Standards & Training Division Commander.

Those students who are interested in participating in the internship program should apply through their school. The SPD Recruiting Unit will serve as the Internship Program’s coordinator for student interns.

See below for the structure of the program.

1. Patrol Division (Weeks 1-4).

• Assign to Administrative Officer (1 day).
• Description and orientation of the precinct system.
• Physical tour of SPD Headquarters.
• Issue Intern identification card (Forensics-County Annex).
• Northwest Precinct – Ride-Along (2 days).
• Central Precinct Two – Ride-Along (2 days).
• Southside Precinct – Ride-Along (2 days).
• Eastside Precinct – Ride-Along (2 day).
• Assign to Crime Prevention Officer (2 days).
• Special Operations (5 days).
• Orientation with Traffic Enforcement Unit to include ride-along (2 days).

(2) Orientation with Mounted Patrol (1 day).

(3) Orientation with all part-time units (1 day).

2. Criminal Investigations Division (Week 5).

• Assign to Sergeant
• Orientation with various units within CID.
• Assign to investigator to observe investigative techniques (1 day).
• Assign to investigator to observe courtroom demeanor (1 day).
• Assign to Forensics Unit (2 days).
• Ride-Along (1 day).

3. Information Management (Week 6).

• Assign to captain
• Assign to Customer Service Desk (1 day).
• Familiarization with teletype (1 day).
• Orientation with records unit (1 day).
• Observe Communications Center (2 days).

4. Support Services Division (Week 7).

• Assign to lieutenant.
• Orientation with Budget and Personnel (1 day).
• Orientation with Quartermaster (2 days)
• Orientation with the Property Room (2 days)

5. Chief’s Office (Week 8)

• Assign to Public Information Office (1 day)
• Assign to Professional Standards & Training Division (4 days)
  • Orientation with internal affairs (1 day).
  • Orientation with recruiting (1 day).
  • Orientation with the training unit (2 days).

6. Summary (Week 9)

• Assign to area(s) of interest (4 days).
• Debriefing by Internship Program Coordinator (1 day).

This layout is designed to give a guideline as to the experience the intern is expected to undertake during the course. Circumstance may require flexibility on ALL parties, including the Savannah Police Department and the participant. The goal is to maximize the experience for the intern and future Police Officer Trainee.