Chatham County will end an agreement that had merged its law enforcement officers with Savannah city police.

On Friday, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted not to renew the agreement that had merged the county’s police force with the city’s. The merged department has been in existence since 2005 after the county and city came to an agreement in 2003. That agreement was to be renegotiated in 2007.

Tony Center of District 3 said terminating the agreement adds pressure to get the city to begin negotiations both parties can agree on.

County Chairman Al Scott submitted a revised draft of the agreement to the city in July that would reduce the 1.5 million the city says the county owes. It also required the counties consent in the hiring of a new police chief. The chairman said the county wants more police presence in the unincorporated area over all.

The city of Savannah responded with another draft that did not include the revisions first submitted by the county.

City Manager Stephanie Cutter issued a statement in response to the dissolution.

“I understand the Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted today to begin the process of terminating the SCMPD intergovernmental agreement. While I respect the will of our elected representatives, I believe strongly that dissolving the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department will hurt public safety in our community."

James Holmes of District 2 said, “This merger is bittersweet and dismantling it is bitter.”

The sentiments where echoed by Vice Chair Pricilla Thomas of District 8 who stated, “It touches my heart, I can’t say that enough, when I see that we as elected officials cannot sit down at the table and come together and make decisions that are necessary.”

Scott said a merger is in the best interest of both entities.

The county will continue negotiations and adhere to previously set negotiated deadlines. September 30th marks the deadline for policy agreements. The deadline for financial agreements is in November.

Tags: merger, GPB, GPB Savannah, Savannah-Chatham Merger