Reading program helps police connect with community, curb crime
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SAVANNAH, Tenn. — Police patrolling the streets of Savannah are using books to help keep their city safe. The police department has started a new initiative, based from Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam’s “Read 20 Patrol.” The initiative distributes books to children in metro areas, but Chief Gary Will Jr. wanted to start a similar program in Savannah. “The goal is to help them learn to read, continue to read, make reading a lifelong habit. If they read just 20 minutes each day, the keep improving,” Chief Will said. Providing books helps prevent being booked behind bars in the future too. “It prevents crime in later years. For every dollar spent on early childhood education, you save $10 in corrections costs, and that’s research that has been out there for several years now,” Chief Will explained. Not only does it benefit the future, but police hope it will create new opportunities for community relationships. “We will be going to get books from our police department,” Adrienne Ross said after hearing about the program. Ross has a young son to whom she has already started reading. “His favorite book is actually “The Cat in the Hat”, and I have read this book to him like 30 times since he’s been born and he’s only 16 months old,” Ross said. Chief Will hopes the community will be a part. “We want people who need assistance to come to us,” Chief Will explained. Officers said anyone can come by and pick up a book. The department is also taking donations from community members at their headquarters. They’re accepting books for eighth grade and lower reading levels.
