It’s been a little over a year since Chief Kelphie Lundy took the helm of the Guyton Police Department and the agency looks much different than it did before – in all of the ways it could.
Changes in staffing, pay, morale, transparency, and community perception are just a few of things that have been transformed over the last twelve months.
Staffing
In an April 2025 WSAV interview, Lundy told a reporter, “I’m not going to fill a position just to have a warm body just to have a police car and a badge.” That comment followed a proclamation that while the PD was actively recruiting and in need of officers, integrity and good character were paramount qualifications for consideration.
“We’re going to get good people that want to come in and serve this community and serve them right,” Lundy said.
That standard means that Guyton PD has, at times, had to do without. The agency has experienced considerable turnover over the last year. While the actions of two individuals garnered notably negative headlines amidst the agency’s rebuild, as of the end of May, no one hired under the previous administration was still employed at Guyton PD.
Angel Hester, who was hired just days before Lundy’s chief position was made official, was promoted to Corporal in November and serves as second in command to the chief.
“She’s done exceptionally well,” Lundy said of Hester. “She’s taken on responsibilities when the department is in need to help us move in the right direction. Without any mumbles or groans, she just did it and continues to do it.” Lundy said she’s also helping to vet new officers during the hiring process.
Recently, Lundy was able to fill three positions, including one – Officer Cheeks – who will be assigned to Guyton Elementary School when school starts back in August. All three are POST certified and have experience in law enforcement with other agencies. Still, all three are currently in a Field Training Officer (FTO) program with the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office. The hope is that all three will be on patrol in the City of Guyton by mid-July.
Another new hire includes the Clerk for the Police Department who also serves as a deputy clerk for court Guyton Municipal Court, when necessary. Regular municipal court clerk duties are handled by a city hall employee for an additional degree of separation of duties.
That leaves one certified position that remains open as budgeted for FY 2025. A total of six officers, including Lundy, down from nine in FY 2024.
Lundy said he will continue to interview candidates and make the case for growing the department, as the budget allows. Elected officials instituted a pay raise and expanded the benefits offered in hopes of becoming more competitive. Officers starting out, with experience, now make $23.07, up for $21.05 last year. The city is also offering a $3,000 signing bonus for new officers if they stay on for two years.
Partnerships with Neighboring Agencies
One of Lundy’s top priorities when he took over last May was to rebuild the working relationship with other law enforcement agencies in Effingham County.
Since Guyton PD is not a 24/7 agency, they still rely on the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office to fill the gap when a Guyton officer is not on-duty. Lundy and Hester work to provide a schedule to ECSO roughly two months in advance, barring an unforeseen emergency. Lundy is also on-call 24/7 for major events within the city limits, though those have been a rarity over the last twelve months.
More recently, Springfield, Rincon, and Guyton formalized an agreement that goes beyond the mutual aid agreements used in emergency situations. The three municipalities swore in the other two respective chiefs for the purpose of agency assistance. The agreement doesn’t mean other officers will be working across cities as it only applies to the chiefs at this time.
“We wanted to start at the top with the leadership because everything starts at the top,” Lundy said. He shared that Chief Woodcock from Springfield filled in to help in May with SRO duties and traffic control at Guyton Elementary, alleviating some of the pressures of Guyton PD’s staffing crunch. The assistance came at no cost to the City of Guyton.
“We all work together with that same goal of protecting the whole community,” Lundy said.
Standardized Uniforms, Vehicles, and PD Operations
All of the PD vehicles are now uniformly equipped and outfitted. Officers have everything from first aid kits and Narcan to evidence bags and Toughbooks.
Lundy also uses the Virtual Academy to institute department-oriented learning in addition to what is required by the state. As soon as someone is hired, they’re required to take an Ethics course and officers can utilize the program for continuing education.
Technologically speaking, since Guyton PD is a small agency, ‘shift change meetings’ aren’t necessarily efficient, so officers utilize a secure app to update the incoming officers about what transpired over the last shift.
The building has also been updated to meet the functional needs of the department. Among the changes: there are now dedicated work spaces for officers to write reports and handle other matters, a videoed interview room, and a training room for hosting educational courses and meetings with other agencies. Another notable change includes a dedicated intake area for evidence storage, which is both under video surveillance and secure access barriers.
Budget Impact
While Lundy reports to the city manager, and ultimately mayor and council, as it pertains to his budget, he’s in charge of the day-to-day management. He once again echoed that anyone with questions or concerns about the budget can visit him at the PD to look at the budget details.
“I’m very conscious of what we spend and how we spend it and if it’s not something that’s beneficial for the citizens or our operations, I’m not doing it. I want to make sure I can explain why I spend every dollar,” he said.
Real Enhancements
When Lundy was hired, he set out to build morale within the department and restore the trust of the community – a feat that he knew would not be accomplished overnight.
Still, progress has been made.
When asked what indicators Lundy has that progress is being made with the community, he said plainly that the feedback from citizens says just as much.
“People will stop by just to say so. From talking about our uniform uniforms and the way the building looks to coming in to say ‘thank you’ and say hello. They see the changes,” Lundy said. He also said there’s a concerted effort to be visible outside of a patrol car. “We’ve got a tent at Sale on the Trail, we visit with business owners. We’re out there more and people see that. I’m proud of the direction we’re going.”
