At Godley Station K-8 in Savannah, a school resource officer developed inappropriate relationships with multiple seventh-grade girls. He called them his “daughters,” messaged them outside of school, pulled them from class without explanation, and even discussed the investigation into his own misconduct with one of the students. Internal investigators found enough evidence to conclude that he had groomed students and violated multiple school policies.

But instead of facing legal consequences or public exposure, he was placed on paid leave — then allowed to quietly resign.

Even worse, staff reportedly knew about rumors for weeks before taking any action. Those concerns were finally escalated by a school council member, whose name was then given to the officer despite a request for anonymity. No outside law enforcement agency appears to have been called in. Parents were left in the dark.

This is not accountability. This is a cover-up.

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System and its Board of Education Police Department must answer for this failure. Why wasn’t this treated as a criminal investigation? Why was resignation treated as resolution? And what’s being done to ensure this never happens again?

Add your name to demand full transparency, independent investigation, and permanent safeguards to protect students — because grooming doesn’t end with a resignation letter, and silence is not justice.

[Photo Credit: JOSEPH SCHWARTZBURT / SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS]