 | When you hear the term, The Original Nine, you might think of a rambling gang of cowboys in a Saturday afternoon western movie or a group of wild motorcycle riders. In fact, it applies to neither. The term is used in Savannah to describe a group of nine courageous young men who overstepped strong racial boundaries to become the first black Savannah Police Officers. When these men signed on as police officers their only thought was providing an income for their family. Little did any realize that sixty-three years later they would be imbedded in Savannah history.
Alexander Grant Jr., Howard J. Davis, Milton Hall, James Nealy, William Malone, Leroy Wilson, Stephey Houston, Frank Mullino and John White were pioneers who set a path for many other African Americans to follow. 1947 was long before the Civil Rights Act was enacted and long before many of the struggles that preceded its passage. Savannah was a very different place then and the economy was doing well after the war. It could be as many say that the stars aligned just right for black men to join the police force. The story could not go without saying that it was a challenge and probably scary at times.
Stories have it that for a long time black officers were not allowed to arrest white persons and even when they made an arrest they had to call a white officer to handle it. They also were restricted to working predominately black neighborhoods as they patrolled mainly the West Broad St. corridor and Frogtown to Yamacraw Village. Despite the prevailing mood concerning their acceptance they stuck hard to their decision and even broke through the ranks. Their presence was so accepted that the Chatham County Police Department opened its doors to black applicants.
Cpl. William Malone and Sgt. John White both retired in the mid 1980’s. Upon his retirement, John White was promoted to the retired rank of Lieutenant by Chief David Gellatly in recognition of his service. Through the 1950’s and 1960’s the number of black officers grew as well as did the number of those rising through the ranks. Some of the notable names scribed in Savannah’s history of black officers include, Ron Lowe, who was the first black Police Chief of the Chatham County Police Department, Frank Ingram, Willie Williams, Fletcher Cross, William Benyard, David Jenkins, and Eddie Williams who all retired in command positions.
They probably never gave a thought that sixty-three years later their decision to become police officers would still be recognized as an important piece of Savannah history or as a motivator to others to break strict barriers. We will be forever indebted to them and will never forget their contributions. Today a plaque stands in the foyer of Headquarters where all officers and visitors are reminded daily of their efforts.
While February is black history month and we honor the accomplishments of African Americans to our community, it is equally important that we reiterate our commitment to fighting crime in the community with the same vigilance these nine men had. |