Homeland security at the G-8 Summit in Sea Island, Ga., will be in the hands of several Cedartown men as they join in the force to provide security for the gathering of world leaders June 8 through 10.

The United States Secret Service, under the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working with local, state and federal security and public safety partners to execute an overall security plan for the Summit, according to reports from DHS.

This includes necessary cooperation from numerous Georgia communities including Polk County.

Cedartown officers from several agencies have been training for the past 12 months specifically for this event and the potential risks it may involve.

Some Polk County officers were assigned duty at the Summit, others have volunteered to be a part of this history-making event.

Sergeant Jimmy Holland with the Northwest Probation/Detention Center, said that he volunteered to go. “This is a major event for this country and a historical event and I wanted to be a part of it,” he said. “I have always been a very patriotic person especially since Sept. 11,” he added.

Polk County Game Warden, Ricky Dempsey, said that he will attend the G-8 with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). While at Sea Island, the DNR will be in charge of water security, beach security, transportation and motorcade protocol.

According to Dempsey, each law officer will be in direct contact with a Secret Service worker and will find out specific duties upon arrival.

“I’m a little apprehensive about going, but I’ve worked for the department [DNR] for 20 years. I’ve been called on to work the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 1993 floods in Albany, Ga., we’re always involved in things like this,” said Dempsey.

Sergeant Butch Thornton, with the Georgia State Patrol said that troopers and the National Guard are making up 99 percent of the mobile field force or riot squad.

Procedures and tactical maneuvers cannot be discussed at this time.

Troopers reporting for duty with Thornton are: Jason Raley, John Garner Chris Lewis, Brian Ratcliff, Larry Hornsby, Brian Blankenship, John Hutcheson and radio operator, Adam Williams.

Other officers participating will be State Probation Officers, Brian Gilmore and Scot Dean with the Department of Corrections; Jonathan Blackman with Pardons and Parole, and Ronnie Smith an investigator with the district attorney’s office.

“The security plans for the summit have been developed through the collective efforts of our federal, state, and local partner agencies,” said U.S. Secret service Director W. Ralph Basham.

“Our goal is not only to ensure security of the summit site, but to create a safe and secure environment for all participants, visitors and area residents.”

The Summit will be attended by leaders of the G-8 member nations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as representatives of the European Union.

The Summit has been in the United States before, but it’s the first time for Georgia to be chosen as the host.

The Summit originally started in 1975 and according to background information, French President Giscard d’Estaing invited the leaders of Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Italy to an informal gathering at the chateau of Rambouillet near Paris.

The idea was for the six to discuss current world issues in a frank and informal setting. There was to be no army of advisers, just the leaders in a relaxed and private setting. The Summit meetings evolved from this smaller gathering.