Officials released annual public safety data Thursday afternoon at a Savannah City Council workshop, revealing notable trends in fire-related deaths, emergency response times and crime patterns across the city.
The Savannah Police Department (SPD) reported a 3% increase in total violent crime, rising from 984 incidents in 2024 to 1,014 in 2025. The increase included a rise in homicides, with 28 reported in 2025, compared to 25 in 2024 and matching 2023’s total of 28, as well as an uptick in domestic aggravated assaults without a firearm, which climbed from 244 cases in 2024 to 266 in 2025.
Despite the increase, SPD Chief Lenny Gunther said at the workshop the department maintained a homicide clearance rate of 89%…