Kim Dodson, mother of the late Savanna Puckett, a dedicated member of the Robertson County Sheriff’s Department, is channeling her grief into a meaningful cause. 

A little over a year after Savanna’s tragic murder, Kim has initiated a heartfelt effort to remember her daughter and support the community. She had already established a non-profit organization in Savanna’s name, Deputy 550’s Warrior Foundation, but wanted to do more to positively impact her community and honor her daughter’s legacy.

“Savanna was a ray of sunshine with a firecracker side,” Kim reflects on her daughter. “The Sheriff's office referred to her as a ‘mother hen’ because she was always trying to take care of the guys, feed them, take them cookies, and make sure on holidays to take any leftover food we had as a family to them.

"She was a beautiful soul ... a 22-year-old with a hundred-year legacy."

In an inspiring show of solidarity, Kim was able to rally a large group of Jeep owners and motorcyclists to participate in a special ride during the Experience Robertson County event on September 8. 

The ride, which began at Airtech in Springfield, close to where Savanna tragically lost her life, ended at Millersville Fire Station #2. Its mission was to bring awareness to the “Shop with a Cop” program and provide participants an opportunity to reflect on the cause they were supporting while remembering the officer who dedicated her life to public service.

Kim explains it was Savanna’s love for kids that inspired the fundraising effort for “Shop with a Cop.”

“On Halloween, the Sheriff's office always called her and said, ‘Hey, we are going to hand out candy and we want you to meet us here,’” she elaborates. “She loved doing that. The ride was purely from my heart, bringing Savanna out. So everything raised that weekend will go to “Shop with a Cop.””

With help from the Millersville Fire Department, the fire hall sold concessions throughout the day, and there were t-shirts Kim specifically had designed for the event for sale. All of which contributed to not only honoring Savanna’s memory, but also ensuring her legacy of compassion, community service and spirit of generosity lives on.

Kim isn’t stopping here in her mission to honor her daughter’s memory and make a lasting impact on the community. 

Looking forward, she is expanding the Deputy 550’s Warrior Foundation to offer scholarship opportunities for young adults aspiring to pursue a career in criminal justice. Through these scholarships, she aims to provide financial support for those who share her daughter’s passion for serving and protecting the community. 

“She loved what she did,” Kim affirms. “I want this to help someone who would otherwise make or break whether or not they go to college. By providing these scholarships, we are able to ensure Savanna’s spirit lives on while supporting the next generation of compassionate adults committed to making the world a better place.” 

These initiatives reflect the unwavering commitment of Kim and the entire community to make a positive difference in the lives of others, even in the face of profound loss. 

“Never, ever would I have thought this would happen to my daughter, much less in this town,” she says. “It was traumatic. But the community here is amazing, and the Robertson County Sheriff's Office has been very supportive and amazing, too. That’s all I can say.”

For those inspired by Kim’s dedication and the outpouring of support from the community, there are various ways to become involved in this cause. 

Donations to Deputy 550’s Warrior Foundation are warmly welcomed and can be made at Farmers Bank on Memorial Boulevard in Springfield. Kim would also love the community’s support for two upcoming events: a softball tournament at Legion Field in Springfield on October 7 and a memorial ride in Clarksville on October 21. Funds from both the tournament and ride will go towards Savanna’s foundation. 

By coming together, we can continue to honor Deputy Puckett’s legacy and make a meaningful difference in the lives of local children in need. 

For more information, please email DeputyPuckettFoundation@gmail.com