The Cedartown Commission joined the City of Rockmart and the Polk County’s government to seek the option of joining the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force during their Monday regular session.

Their vote was the last needed ahead of the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force board holding their meeting to determine whether they’ll take on Polk County law enforcement into the fold of their GBI-headed organization.

If they approve, a memorandum of understanding will be drawn up and the next step will be to determine which officers will be selected and head onward to a future tri-county force, with training time put in via the Georgia Bureau of Investigation before they begin operations locally.

Polk County’s combined Cedartown, Rockmart and Polk County law enforcement compliment will be able to provide four officers to the force if the Haralson-Paulding DTF Control Board accepts Polk. They’ll join a force of 8 agents and a commander already on the job in the counties to the east and south.

Cedartown Commissioners approved the option to explore joining the task force – like the Rockmart City Council – with the expectation that they’ll vote a second time on any memorandum of understanding drawn up between the control board and the local law enforcement agencies.

The vote didn’t come without some comments from the City Commission.

WATCH Subscriber Video: Cedartown City Commission – May 2023 meeting

Commissioner Matt Foster noted that “my vote is predicated yes because not from a politician wanting us to do this, but because I have the confidence when the chief recommends it, it’s (inaudible on the video.)”

“Absolutely, yes. That’s the reason we’re doing that,” Commissioner Dale Tuck agreed, as well as Commission Chair Jessica Payton.

“Yes, very much. We trust our leaders and our city,” Payton said.

Prior to the vote, City Manager Edward Guzman told the City Commission that “what makes this regional task force different is that it is commanded by the GBI. So any (Drug Task Force agent we do send goes through GBI-specific training at the same level as a GBI agent.”

He recommended exploring the option along with Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome.

Polk County’s Drug Task Force in the meantime has remained active, and recently taken on several arrests and on Tuesday night participated in a bust setup by the Aragon Police at the Dollar General in Aragon in cooperation with other agencies.