By By PRESS, STAFF REPORTS
Atmore Chief of Police Bruce Lovett resigned suddenly Monday, with the resignation taking effect on Dec. 31 of this year.
Lovett said he is leaving the Atmore Police Department to pursue other interests, although he declined to say what those interests were.
Other details and information on possible candidates to succeed Lovett were not available at press time. Officials with the city and the police department were expected to make any necessary announcements later this week.
Lovett has served as police chief since February of this past year, when Danny McKinley left to take a position with the Attorney General's office.
Lovett said the decision to leave the department was a difficult one and only came after spending much time in prayer about the decision.
Lovett was named acting Police Chief for six weeks before he was made the permanent chief on March 25 of this year. He was one of five candidates considered for the permanent position.
During his tenure, five new officers were hired for APD shortly after he was named acting chief on Feb. 6.
Lovett started out in law enforcement in 1975, working with the Florida Parole and Probation Office. Four and a half yeas later, he oversaw the Alabama Department of Youth Services, supervising both chotaw and Wahsington counties. He later spent 10 years with the Citrus County, Fla., Sheriff's Office and began and supervised the first narcotics division there. He was late promoted ot supervisor of general investigations and large crimes.
Lovett returned to Alabama in 1991 to become Police Chief in Bay Minette. He was chief there for nine yeras, but decided to step away from the profession and left to work for Standard Furniture Company in Bay Minette as Director of Security and Safety.
He and his wife, Susan, who is originally from Atmore, have four daughtes and seven grandchildren. Lovett and his wife married in 1968.