This episode of Difference Makers is brought to you by the Do Savannah Big Calendar.

Taking the helm of a new police force is always nerve-wracking, but doing it for a brand-new police force with hardly any other members is something else. Chatham County police chief Jeff Hadley did just that last November when he came to the area to become the chief for the newly formed police department for the unincorporated part of the county. Hadley talks about his family, his decision to come to Chatham County from Michigan and the type of culture he hopes to instill in his department.

 

(3:16): Hadley's work in Kalamazoo, Michigan and its cross-training program

(6:19): Starting with the Chatham County Police Department

• New Chatham County Police Department swears in chief, 22 officers (SMN, Dec. 4, 2017)

(8:57): Process of hiring and training officers for the new force

• Chatham County police chief remains focused on staffing, property crimes (SMN, May 19, 2018)

(19:15) Creating a culture for the Chatham County Police Department

• New Chatham County police chief hopes to create departmental culture, community trust (SMN, Nov. 6, 2017)

(24:48): Strong belief in relationship policing

• Unincorporated Chatham crime down 5.3 percent so far in 2018 (SMN, July 7, 2018)

(28:37): How would you respond to a concerned citizen?

• Chatham County police chief: First night 'pretty uneventful' (SMN, Feb.1, 2018)
• Chatham commission gets update on police staffing, crimes (SMN, July 20, 2018)

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.