Jubilation filled the air in McDonough Saturday to celebrate the impending arrival of a facility honoring a man who worked to keep the city safe.

Dozens of local residents and city officials came together to mark the groundbreaking of the McDonough Police Department’s Edward “Boots” Welch Precinct, at 342 Simpson St.

McDonough Mayor Billy Copeland said the precinct will help to honor the dedication which Boots Welch, one of the city’s first black police officers, displayed in the city for 35 years.

“Boots Welch was just a dear friend of mine,” said Copeland. “A lot of people are here today that love McDonough, but I don’t know of anybody in the world that loved McDonough more than Boots Welch did. And everybody in McDonough loved
him.”

In addition to the police precinct, the 3,300 square-foot facility will also house a community room and a medical clinic.

“I think it has all kinds of wonderful opportunities for a lot of folks, meeting people’s needs here in our community,” said Copeland. “It’s a gorgeous piece of property. We need another police precinct, and this just works beautifully right here in our city. I think the citizens are going to be pleased.”

Construction for the $700,000 project will be overseen by Falcon Design.

McDonough Police Chief Pres- ton Dorsey thanked members of the Welch family who were in attendance for the groundbreaking. He said the groundbreaking represents a “big day for the city of McDonough.”

“It’s very important that we have officers assigned to this area off Simpson Street,” said Dorsey. “The officers will come in over here, do reports and meet with the public. We’ll have some rooms for community meetings here. We’ll also have a room to do police training. But this is a very safe neighborhood over here. We want to continue expanding our precincts to different parts of McDonough so we can continue to make McDonough safe.

“There’s an old saying that says, ‘It’s nice to receive a miracle,’” added Dorsey. “But today, because of Boots Welch, we are building a miracle.”

McDonough City Councilman Rufus Stewart agreed that the groundbreaking, adjacent to the park that bears his name, marked an “exciting day” for McDonough. He said the occasion served as a reminder of the area’s past, and that he looks forward to good things for the city in the future.

“I remember when this used to be a dirt road,” said Stewart. “I never thought that it would become this today. All our children and young people can come to the community room and do their homework and even fill out an application to get a job. It’s going to enhance the community, and make the community a little safer.”

Stewart added that a new precinct will also help to create a better relationship between law enforcement and local residents.

The city previously acquired the property from Welch’s family. The late officer’s daughter, Lovette Welch Allen of McDonough, was visibly excited as she stood on the property where she grew up – which will soon house a facility in memory of her father, who passed away in 2005.

“It is overwhelming to me,” said Allen. “I hope it brings a lot of good things for the community.”

The precinct will be located near Lamar Park, which is named for the family of Allen’s mother, Lurline Lamar Welch. Allen reflected on this as well, saying the precinct will help to ensure that her family will be well connected to the community for years to come.

“I know my mother and father are smiling down on this property today,” said Allen. “I know they are here with us today in spirit.”