Jake Shore covers public safety and the courts system in Savannah and Coastal Georgia. He is also a Report for America corps member. Prior to joining The Current, Jake worked as a senior writer for the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette newspapers based near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He covered breaking news, police, crime, and the courts.
Glynn County hired John Powell in 2018 to take over a force mired in problems. But Powell’s tenure ended with the force in a steeper tailspin and he faces trial early next year in Glynn on charges Powell knew about and ignored misconduct within a narcotics unit under his command, and in one instance, allegedly assisted in covering up illegal actions.
Last month, with little fanfare, the Savannah City Council unanimously approved funding for new video surveillance technology and cameras to aid police in fighting crime. Police claim BriefCam will help investigations, but its camera locations raise questions.
As violent crime and killings are on the rise across the United States, Savannah has become a symbol of success in one vital metric: The city’s ability to solve homicides far exceeds the national average, according to police statistics.
