METRO Police Officers Leave to Work Inauguration

Metro Police Leave to Work Inauguration (Added: January 18, 2009)

Savannah-Chatham Metro Police left Sunday to head to Washington, D.C. so they can work as police in our nation's Capital. (more)

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By: Randi Hempel | WSAV-TV
Published: January 18, 2009

Nearly 100 Metro Police officers also left for our nation's capital Sunday.

The trip caused confusion earlier this week between city leaders and police Chief Michael Berkow.

Council members were concerned because they found out through the newspaper that officers were being sent to Washington for the inauguration.

Chief Berkow insisted no city or county money is being spent and enforcement on the streets of savannah will not be affected.

News 3's Randi Hempel was at the Oglethorpe Mall today as the officers boarded buses.

Almost all of the 97 metro police officers chosen to serve in our nation's capital are on board the buses.

"Oh, it's a priviledge. I can honestly say that I never thought that I would live to see this day come, but it is here so we are going to take advantage of it,” says Capt. Henry Wiley with SCMPD.

And have something new to add to their work experience.

"No one that's going has ever been to an inauguration, especially to protect the President and that's what we're going to be doing,” continues Capt. Wiley.

In areas more jam packed than this bus they're traveling north on, the parade route.

The officers going from Metro Police represent 90 agencies chosen to help serve during the inauguration in Washington D.C. They're bringing with them their expertise from the G-8 Summit several years ago and but they're coming back with more knowledge, for instance, how to better control crowds here in Savannah

"Invaluable knowledge and experience. It would give us the ability to know how to handle large crowds, even better than what we've been doing in the past for example the St. Patrick's Day parades and stuff like that,” adds Capt. Wiley.

They'll also return with something that will make their family history books.

"Plenty of memories because they're not able to go, so I will be able to tell the stories over and over again for years to come,” continues Capt. Wiley.

Even the story of how they couldn't leave on time because they were waiting on one officer to arrive, pack up and board so they could hit the road to Washington where history's about to be made.

The Metro officers will be sworn in as Washington D.C. police officers so that they will have arresting powers when they work the parade.

Their absence will not be felt here in Savannah. Officials tell News 3 that only 1/3 of the department works at a time. They will be fully staffed on Monday for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade.

Local tax dollars will not be used to pay the officers working in D.C. Federal monies will pay them.