City of South Fulton launches police department

CITY OF SOUTH FULTON, Ga. - Less than a year after becoming their own city, residents in south Fulton County have their own police department.

Officials with the City of South Fulton swore in about 85 officers and 10 civilians Monday morning in a ceremony at New Life Presbyterian Church.  

"This police department is ready and set to go," said Mayor Bill Edwards.

The city officially took over police services from Fulton County at 12:01 a.m. 

"It was actually unexplainable.  It was exciting," said Interim Police Chief Sheila Rogers of the transition. "It was about 20 officers who came out. They took the oath of office. To be able to pull them into a new department was just – it was a brilliant feeling."  

Improving public safety was one of the main reasons voters chose to incorporate the City of South Fulton.

"That was number one on their agenda, is strong police," Edwards said. "So, we clearly heard their message and we would not be who we think we are if we didn't make sure that our police department was shored up and that we're giving the service that the citizens of this city are paying for."

Currently, all the officers in the new department are police who transferred from the Fulton County Police Department. City officials hope to recruit more new officers as soon as possible.