Police Department

Honesty, Integrity, and Pride......

“THE MISSION OF THE THUNDERBOLT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TO STRENGTHEN AND MAINTAIN THE SOCIAL ORDER OF THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES, WHILE REMAINING WITHIN PRESCRIBED ETHICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS.”

The Thunderbolt Police Department consists of the Chief, officers who work the Patrol Division and one Criminal Investigator. The department is set up with four teams which work a 12 hour cycle and rotate from day shift to evening shift and back every four weeks. An additional officer is assigned to work with the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, a multi-jurisdictional task force. All officers have been certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. Civilian personnel consist of an administrative clerk and a school crossing guard.

The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police E-911 Communications Center has handled all dispatching responsibilities for the police department since 2003. If you need emergency assistance, you must dial 911. For all non-emergency requests, you must dial 912-652-6500 for an officer to respond to your location. Business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding holidays. The department may be contacted at (912) 354-3818 for all other purposes.

As a member of the Thunderbolt Police Department, our primary goal is to protect and serve each member of our community and all visitors to our area.

Chief of Police - Jessie Irene Pennington

PERSONAL:

Marital Status: Married to Frank M. Pennington
Born: Pensacola, Florida
Moved to Savannah February, 1963

EDUCATION:

High School Diploma, Savannah High School 1967
B.S. Criminal Justice, Armstrong State College 1993
Master’s in Public Administration, emphasis in Criminal Justice, Georgia Law Enforcement Command College, Columbus State University 2006
Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, 168th Session, 1992
Intermediate, Advanced and Management Certification, Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training

EMPLOYMENT:

Chatham County Police Department, Administrative Assistant, February 1973
Chatham County Police Department, Officer – August 1973.
Progressed through the rank of Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Major.
Retired September 2005
Thunderbolt Police Department Chief, June 2005

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police
International Association of Chiefs of Police
FBI National Academy Associates of Georgia
Peace Officers Association of Georgia
Member of Peace Officers Annuity and Benefit Fund
Georgia Public Safety Training Center – Savannah Regional Academy Advisory Board
Savannah-Chatham E911 Steering Committee

Overview

The Thunderbolt Police Department enforces the law in a fair and impartial manner, recognizing both the statutory and judicial limitations of police authority and the constitutional rights of all persons. The Department recognizes that no law enforcement agency can operate at its maximum potential without supportive input from the citizens it serves. The Thunderbolt Police Department actively solicits and encourages the cooperation of all citizens to decrease the opportunities for crime and to facilitate the maximum use of resources.

Goals

The following goals have been established:

1. Protection of Life and Property - To provide services which contribute to the preservation of life, the protection of property, and the safety of the community.

2. Prevention, Detection and Investigation of Criminal Activity - To prevent crime through aggressive patrol which limits the opportunity for a crime to occur, and through education of citizens which reduces the likelihood of them becoming victims; to provide a thorough, appropriate, and efficient investigation of criminal activity; to provide positive measures against organized crime and related activities.

3. Apprehension of Offenders - To provide for the expeditious and prudent apprehension of suspected violators of the law, irrespective of their station in life, through thorough, appropriate, and efficient police-related investigations.

4. Maintenance of Public Order - To maintain peace and public order; to assist during times of natural or unnatural occurrences or disasters.

5. Recovery of Property - To maintain an inventory and secure all properties evidence, lost and recovered/stolen property being held by the Police Department, thereby ensuring that it is available when needed or claimed.

6. Training of Officers - To design and implement a training program to fill the training needs of officers and to promote a high rate of proficiency in the officers of the Department; to address career goals of department personnel.

7. Compliance with Ethical Standards - To ensure the integrity and adherence to professional standards of the Department by receiving and investigating all complaints against departmental personnel of alleged misconduct or misuse of force.

8. Traffic Control - To provide for the safe and effective flow of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic and the investigation of traffic related accidents.

9. Community Service - To provide the resources necessary for assisting citizens under special non-criminal circumstances.

10. Departmental Administration - To provide management, administration, and support required for operation of the department.

Applications

Police Officer applications are accepted at all times and kept on file.

To apply for a position with the Thunderbolt Police Department, click here to download the application.

Poice Forms

Request for Extra Police Patrols