Kurtis Purtee

I was born and raised in Michigan for much of my young adult life. While in middle school and high school, I was a dairy farmer. Once I graduated, I attended school for Criminal Justice and entered into law enforcement at the early age of 19. I moved to Savannah in 2005 and during my 22 year career in Law Enforcement, I was able to receive my Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, and Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Currently, I am blessed to serve as a Police Captain in my community. During my law enforcement career, I have worked diligently in the area of community policing to build partnerships between the police and the community. I made it a point to visit senior centers, local neighborhoods, and businesses to hear the concerns of our citizens. Through community involvement, active police participation, and block parties, we were able to combat crime effectively. I participated in youth activities and programs to reach out to our youth in the community. A lot of our youth came from poverty-stricken homes and broken families. Youth needed a sense of belonging and a place for recreation as well as educational experiences. I will work diligently with local churches and law enforcement to deter gun violence and educate youth on the consequences of such violence. I had the opportunity to be part of a response team that addresses mental health issues and provides resources to better manage the needs of our community members. I want to see Savannah grow and prosper. My family worked hard and instilled in me that sense of hard work and honesty. I come from a family of farmers, military members, blue-collar workers, business owners, and police officers. I am an active member of Asbury Memorial Church in Savannah, where I chair the Safety Ministry. I was elected to serve as your District 6 Alderman in December of 2019. Since that time, I have worked tirelessly with members of our community to enhance the quality of life. I have authored and passed the non discrimination ordinance and I am currently working on a Human Rights Commission for the City of Savannah. I serve on the Proud Savannah Taskforce, dedicated to serving LGBTQ+ community members. I look forward to continuing to work to make Savannah a place that thrives of equity, equality, growth, and opportunity.