If the vision of Lovejoy Police Chief Darrell Partain becomes reality, the city could see Lovejoy police officers on the street by the fall.

At the April 13 Lovejoy City Council meeting, Partain presented to the council framed copies of critical documents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council which officially recognized the city as an official Georgia Law Enforcement Agency.

Now, the council can focus on the next step in the process of establishing a city police department, finalizing its 2009-2010 fiscal year budget, which includes a city police department, and would allow Partain to begin the employment process of police applicants.

In addition, the council is making final decisions on the design of a new Lovejoy municipal complex where the department will be headquartered.

“The council will institute the next city budget no earlier than July and, when it is approved, I will focus on putting Lovejoy police officers in uniform,” said Partain, a 35-year law enforcement veteran with 32 of those years with Clayton County Police.

At present, the city is being patrolled by CCPD officers whose Lovejoy headquarters is inside the city’s community center on Hastings Bridge Road.

According to Lovejoy Mayor Mike Murphy, the creation of a Lovejoy Police Department is the realization of a dream which started three years ago.

“It has been my great honor as mayor to be associated with many outstanding accomplishments of our city, but I have never been more proud to be a Lovejoy citizen as we are now home to a recognized law enforcement agency,” he said.

With its official recognition as a state law enforcement agency, applicants for police positions with Lovejoy will now be required to successfully complete the P.O.S.T. entrance exam to be certified peace officers, Partain said.