Renfroe Outdoor, in conjunction with the Savannah Police Department, is proud to announce our newest honoree in the Savannah Heroes program! Each month, we will highlight a member of the local police force on our extensive digital billboard network for their outstanding work in serving and improving our communities.
This month we are proud to spotlight Detective Cpl. Patrick Skinner!
From the Savannah Police Department:
Cpl. Patrick Skinner was assigned to the Major Crimes Unit in November 2020, and in less than four months, his work has resulted in closing three major cases. His law enforcement experience, detective knowledge and personal drive have made significant impacts on crime and safety in Savannah when it comes to gang and weapons activity.
Cpl. Skinner has been with the department since March 2017. Prior to his career as an SPD officer, he served as a CIA case officer with extensive experience in source handling and source networks and specializing in counterterrorism. After the CIA, he worked as Director of Special Projects for The Soufan Group. He also has prior experience with the Federal Air Marshal Service, the U.S. Capitol Police, and search and rescue experience in the U.S. Coast Guard. But it was his desire to return to his hometown and serve on a community level that brought him back to Savannah to join SPD.
In the short time Cpl. Skinner has been a detective with the Major Crimes Unit, his cases have resulted in nine arrests and the seizure of 12 guns. He has also executed around 50 search warrants, which his supervisors said was “unheard of” for other detectives in that amount of time.
In one of his cases, four suspects were arrested for multiple aggravated assaults, weapons and gang-related charges. It resulted in a 116-count indictment. His supervisor stated that the investigation and arrests “surely had an impact on the gangs and violence in Savannah.”
The second cases involved a 9-year-old girl who was shot during a road rage incident. Cpl. Skinner took the lead on the investigation and was able to identify, locate and arrest the suspect on the same night as the shooting. His ability to process major crime scenes, to effectively and efficiently manage information and to delegate investigative tasks assisted in bringing the case to a close quickly.
A third case involves the arrest of three suspects who were connected to two shootings, weapons violations and were in possession of a stolen automobile. Cpl. Skinner worked for countless hours executing search warrants, conducting interviews and reviewing evidence. His investigative work resulted in the seizure of automatic weapons, which are not common to the Savannah area.
About the initiative:
Renfroe Outdoor is proud to partner with the Savannah Police Department in an initiative to honor our local heroes. Each month, this program will highlight an outstanding officer in our community chosen by the Savannah PD and recognize them across town with our digital billboard network.
It is of the opinion of the management of Renfroe Outdoor that most media outlets are too eager to cover the wrong stories relating to the police. While all public officials should be held accountable for their actions, there are far more positives that can be said about the local police than the negative. With this program, Renfroe Outdoor hopes to help foster a growing positive relationship between our citizens and the men and women who put themselves in danger to protect them each day.
