SAVANNAH, Ga. – A group of 77 members of the Savannah Police Department, including high ranking staff members and captains in all four precincts, have signed a letter of workplace conflicts with Chief Roy Minter, specifically citing 22 complaints.
The undated letter, sent to the city of Savannah’s Human Resources Department, includes claims of favoritism, public embarrassment and “outright disrespect” shown by Minter between August 2018 — when the chief first took the reins of the department — and the present, Savannah Morning News reported.
Last Friday, Savannah Interim City Manager Pat Monahan sent an email to council letting them know an issue within the police department could become public, WTOC reported.
According to Monahan, the Statement of Workplace Conflict was submitted and signed by 77 employees within SPD, including five captains, seven lieutenants, 17 sergeants, 16 corporals, nine APO’s, 11 officers, nine detectives and one non-sworn department employee.
According to Monahan’s email, the Statement of Workplace Conflict alleges Chief Minter has failed “…to abide by the City’s Employee Standards and Leadership Principles,” listing 22 categories of conduct contrary to city policy.
Monahan told council he’s met with Chief Minter and the city’s human resources director to outline a path forward. Monahan says because of the number of employees involved, he will be asking the Human Resources Department to seek outside professional assistance for interviews/surveys to give personal accounts and examples of violations (as the process requires). Outside assistance will also help keep the inquiry objective and allow for a quicker resolution, Monahan says.
Monahan told council he’s committed to fairness for all involved in this process and added he will continue to have confidence in Chief Minter unless overwhelming evidence later suggests otherwise, WTOC reported.
It would seem that 77 subordinate employees willing to sign their name to this letter would indicate an avalanche of what is to come.
The names of Northwest Precinct Capt. Cary Hill, Southside Precinct Capt. Michelle Halford, Eastside Precinct Capt. George Gundich and Central Precinct Capt. Tonya Reid are particularly noteworthy among the staffers who signed the complaint.
Savannah Police Department is comprised of more than 500 sworn officers and 100 civilian employees, according to the department’s recruitment website.
Neither the police department nor the city is providing additional statements currently.
A copy of the complaint is included below.
