Savannah to change little-known board after police misconduct cases

Savannah officials are making substantial changes to a little-known employment board following its recent decisions involving police accountability.

The reforms to the three-member Civil Service Board, first established in the 1940s, will decrease the unelected board’s power to an advisory role in matters related to demotions, firings and suspensions. The changes will also cut the six-year terms of the members, who are appointed by the mayor and city council, in half. 

The shift comes after the board reversed or lessened at least two disciplinary decisions in the last year made by City Manager Jay Melder and Savannah Police Department Chief Lenny Gunther. 

The first case concerned Ashley Wood, a veteran Savannah homicide detective who lied on search warrants, according to an internal police investigation. Wood was fired in July 2023. In September, a Savannah man she accused of participating in a murder filed suit against her and the city, alleging he was jailed for two years due to Wood falsely identifying him in warrants. 

Wood appealed her termination to the Civil Service Board, which hears disciplinary appeals for city employees. The board held at least two hearings, and, in December 2023, reversed Wood’s firing and reinstated her to work for the city but in a “lower civilian position,” according to news reports. Citing the board’s decision, the city then offered Wood a position within code compliance, which she accepted. Alderwoman Post 2 At-Large Alicia Blakely sounded off at a city council meeting a day after Wood ruling. 

“It’s very disturbing and egregious what our Civil Service Board has done. I would like for us to look at adding two more additional people on that civil service board so that we could have a correct, non-biased representation and decision when it comes to that type of thing,” Blakely said. 

The Current reached out to the board chairman, attorney Joseph Steffen, at the time. He declined to explain the board’s decision making about Wood.

“Our decision is what is what it is,” he said. “We made that based on our review of the information and a lengthy hearing where both parties were represented by excellent legal counsel.”

Nearly five months later, a grand jury indicted Wood on charges of perjury, violation of oath of office, and making false statements related to her firing. She has pleaded not guilty. 

In another case, the board reduced the suspension of a Savannah police corporal whom internal investigators found violated the department’s policy about vehicle pursuits. In 2022 he chased a driver who ran a red light, leading to a fatal crash, according to the Savannah Morning News. The board decided his suspension should be three days, down from 20 days, according to television station WTOC.

Civil service gained prominence in the U.S. as a means to institute merit-based measures for hiring, rather than just relying on political patronage. By the 1940s, local governments across the country instituted their own forms of civil service legislation to comply with federal laws, according to Civil Service Adoption in America: The Political Influence of City Employees. 

Savannah’s Civil Service Board, put into place by the Georgia General Assembly in 1949, is required to have one member from a business group, one from a labor organization, and one from a professional organization. The board can only reinstate a city employee who was fired if “the removal was made for personal, political or religious reasons and not justified,” according to the legislation. 

The current board has Steffen and Ryan Martin, a Savannah Market President at Truist Bank. It has one vacancy, previously filled by a Savannah State University professor. 

Mayor Van Johnson told The Current that the planned changes to the board are a result of multiple discussions with council members, the city manager and the city attorney. They decided to alter the board’s authority instead of just adding new members. 

“More members doesn’t necessarily change the process,” said Johnson, a former human resources professional. “The city manager, we hold him responsible for the decisions that he makes. Well, we can’t hold him responsible for a decision he doesn’t make.”

According to Johnson, changing the board’s rules will also make sure the city isn’t on the hook for civil liability, specifically “negligent retention” of employees who cause harm to others.

In addition to only having an advisory role regarding demotions, firings and suspensions, the Civil Service Board will now be required to document how they reached their findings — something that was not regularly done before. 

The changes, which will entail an amendment to the city charter, will be voted on at Thursday’s city council meeting, said Johnson, who expects it to pass. 

This story was provided by WABE content partner The Current.