GUYTON -- James Breletic was sworn in as chief of the Guyton Police Department during a special called meeting of the Guyton City Council on Tuesday night at City Hall.

Breletic, formerly chief of the Lake City Police Department, received affirmitave votes from Mayor Russell Deen, Post 1's Marshall Reiser, Post 2's Hursula Pelote and Post 3's Joseph Lee. Post 4's Michael Johnson didn't attend the meeting.

Deen nominated Breletic for the job upon the recommendation of Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie, Rincon Police Chief Jonathan Murrell and Springfield Police Chief Paul Wynn. The council wasn't involved in the interview process as during last year's aborted attempts to hire former Savannah Police Department Capt. Richard Zapal.

The Guyton Police Department hasn't had a permanent chief in more than a year. Sgt. Joseph Coppolla and McDuffie took turns filling the position on an interim basis after the resignation of Kenny McDonald.  McDuffie started Jan. 28.

See the March 11 edition of the Effingham Herald for more details.