Savannah Hero of the Month for January!
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.
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This month we are proud to spotlight Corporal Steven Bland!
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From the Savannah Police Department:
On Sept. 20, Cpl. Bland and two other members of the HEAT Unit were assisting the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) in a traffic operation in Albany, Ga., when they stopped a vehicle that had no license plate. There were also 1-year-old twins inside who were in old, damaged and improperly installed car seats. The seats did not have harnesses and did not properly protect the young children. After speaking with the 21-year-old mother, the officers learned that her vehicle had been stolen, she had just started a new job and did not have money for replacement seats. Cpl. Bland decided to help the mom by going to Walmart and purchasing two new seats for the twins with his own money while the other officers stayed behind to help entertain the kids. While at the store, Cpl. Bland decided to purchase a third seat, which was given away to another parent that same evening.
Following the incident, Cpl. Bland attempted for several months to reach out to the mother to check on her, but was unable to reach her. He even reached out to the police in Albany to see if they could go by her residence and ask her to give him a call, but officers were unable to reach her. Not taking no for an answer, Cpl. Bland found her on social media and sent her a message to make sure she and the children were alright. He learned that she was continuing to struggle and her phone had been shut off, explaining his difficulty reaching her. He told her that they would be assisting GOHS in another operation in December just before Christmas and asked if she would be willing to meet the officers while they were in town. When they met, Cpl. Bland and the other two officers surprised her with stuffed animals for the kids and gift cards to help her buy presents for the twins. The mother was overjoyed and later sent photos of the shopping cart stacked high with Christmas toys for her children.
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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 extensive 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.
