Law enforcement agencies in Polk County recently started a Fraternal Order of Police Lodge.

The new lodge is named the Lott-Jones-McCowan Lodge. This name was chosen to honor three fallen Polk County officers.

Sheriff Frank Lott was shot behind Cedartown High School in 1974. Patrolman Ed Jones was the first motorcycle cop for the Cedartown Police Department before transferring to the Polk County Police Department. He was killed in a car wreck in 1970. Will McCowan, an officer with the Cedartown Police Department, was shot to death on Main Street in 1954.

The new lodge held their first meeting on Thursday, May 28, and recently elected officers for the new lodge.

Elected as president was Patrick Theroit, of the Polk County Police Department.

The vice president is Jamie Newsome, Assistant Chief of the Cedartown Police Department.

Charles Vainrib, of the Polk County Police Department, will serve as Chaplain.

The secretary-treasurer will be Chad Desanto, of the Polk County Police Department.

Jeremy Walters, of the Rockmart Police Department, was elected to be the Sergeant at Arms.

According to Newsome, the lodge plans to have events to increase community involvement, with a focus on an increased police presence in the community other than enforcement.

“We live in this county too,” said Newsome, adding, “we were looking for a way to show that we want to support and contribute to the community as well.”

The lodge will hold a meeting once a month, and Newsome encourages all officers to get involved.

“Retired officers are also eligible, and are encourage to participate,” Newsome said. “We’d love their participation,” he added.

The Fraternal Order of Police formerly had a local lodge called the Moss-Davenport Lodge. For reasons unclear, that lodge went under many years ago.

According to their Web site, the Fraternal Order of Police is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 325,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges. They are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving communities all over the country.