Chief calls the incident “shocking,” says effort to maintain relationship not reciprocated by Sheriff’s Office
A longstanding partnership between two law enforcement agencies in Chatham County has ended after an armored vehicle was loaned out for a wedding in November.
The Chatham County Police Department has formally withdrawn from the Chatham County SWAT Team following a headline-garnering incident in which the partner agency, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, loaned out an armored vehicle for a private wedding on November 4.
The story was reported exclusively by TheGeorgiaVirtue.com in late November. At the time, TGV reported that a Savannah area family was permitted to utilize a $275,000 Bear-Cat armored vehicle for a wedding event in Chatham County. Photos and videos appeared on social media with members of the family and wedding party atop of the vehicle while music played and bubble guns filled the skies.
The incident itself and the subsequent backlash, however, prompted Chatham County Police Chief Jeffrey Hadley to pen a letter to Sheriff Richard Coleman on December 5, informing him of the immediate withdrawal from the team.
TheGeorgiaVirtue.com obtained a copy of the letter Thursday following an Open Records Request filed this week.
The Bear-Cat, which is not owned exclusively by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, was purchased in 2021 for SWAT operations through a multi-agency effort paid for by tax dollars and funds from drug seizure accounts. The Chatham County Police Department paid the majority of the price tag on the vehicle, according to county records:
- $28,564.50 – Chatham County Sheriff’s Office budget
- $28,564.50 – Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Unit
- $218,730.00 – Chatham County Police CIP
TheGeorgiaVirtue.com reached out the Chatham County Police Department Thursday regarding the withdrawal and the PD provided the following statement:
On December 5, 2025, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley briefed Chatham County’s Board of Commissioners in Executive Session on his decision to withdraw the Chatham County Police Department from the Chatham County SWAT Team, which was a joint operation comprised of CCPD officers and deputies from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.
With the support of Chatham County Commission, Hadley subsequently informed Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman of his decision.
Chief Hadley made this decision out of concern for the welfare, safety, and reputation of CCPD and associated agencies whose officers comprise the Chatham County SWAT Team.
Chief Hadley made numerous attempts to meet with the Sheriff and discuss various issues regarding the SWAT Team. However, these efforts have been met with little to no reciprocation from the Sheriff.
SWAT Team Operations are an extremely “High Risk Law Enforcement Function”, which necessitate strong relations amongst its leaders and open paths to communication. The lack of the afore mentioned puts SWAT Team members and the community at risk.
SWAT Team members volunteer for this duty knowing they are potentially placing themselves in extreme danger whenever they respond to an emergency. One of the key pieces of tactical equipment they rely on for protection is an armored vehicle known as a Bear-Cat.
Chief Hadley recently learned that the Sheriff’s Office approved the use of the Bear-Cat for a private wedding, which subjected the county to unnecessary liability and embarrassment. This, coupled with other issues led him to withdraw CCPD’s participation in a joint SWAT Team with the Sheriff’s Office, with the support of the associated agencies.
Should emergencies requiring a SWAT response occur in CCPD’s jurisdiction in the immediate future, Savannah Police Department’s SWAT Team has agreed to respond at CCPD’s request during this transition.
Chief Hadley, and staff are in the process of reconstituting the SWAT Team serving Unincorporated Chatham County and partner agencies jurisdictions.
TGV also inquired about the status of the retrieval of the equipment from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. As of Thursday afternoon (December 11), the Chatham County Police Department reported that the equipment “had not been returned and is still in the possession of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.”
