Savannah Names Roy Minter As Police Chief

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Roy Minter has been named chief of the Savannah Police Department.

Savannah has named Roy Minter as the city's next police chief, City Manager Rob Hernandez said Thursday. 

Minter is currently the police chief in Peoria, Arizona, where he announced his retirement in May. 

Hernandez said Minter's past experience will translate well to Savannah. 

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"While Peoria, Arizona, may not have necessarily the violent crime that we have," he said, "it is definitely located in a larger, more urbanized metropolitan area and he's had to deal with all of the public safety challenges that that brings."

Hernandez also cited Minter's work in other police departments, including Denton, Texas and Aurora, Colorado, saying that work gave him a "diverse background."

He emphasized those cities' proximity to metropolitan areas like Phoenix and Dallas.

"They've had to deal with gang-related problems and they've had to deal with gangs across a variety of different groups," Hernandez said. "Those communities are probably more diverse than we are here in Savannah."

Savannah has struggled with gang and gun violence in recent years, though city leaders cite lower homicide and shooting numbers so far this year as signs of progress.

"I think we're in a positive trend to get things in the right direction," said Mayor Eddie DeLoach, who ran on a platform of reducing violent crime. "I'm excited for the future for Savannah."

Minter will replace Mark Revenew, who has served as interim chief since Jack Lumpkin left the department in January.

Minter begins work in Savannah on August 27.