Savannah police get help against surge in violence

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) -- Police in Savannah are getting some help from state law enforcement agents to combat a surge in violence.<br /> <br /> The Savannah Morning News reports that Savannah-Chatham metropolitan police Chief Joseph Lumpkin said Friday that the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation would help bolster his force.<br /> <br /> The chief said state troopers will assume some patrol duties in parts of Savannah and Chatham County. That should allow metro officers normally assigned to those areas to concentrate in violent crime areas.<br /> <br /> He said GBI agents will be embedded with the local criminal investigations division to help respond to violent crimes.<br /> <br /> Lumpkin said he asked for help Wednesday. That was a day after the fatal shooting of a 2-year-old girl and a weekend that saw police responding to nine shootings