Greenville mayor Dexter McLendon has announced that three key members of his City of Greenville staff will retire at the end of the year.

Greenville Police Department chief Lonzo Ingram, Greenville Fire Department chief Chad Phillips and City clerk-treasurer Sue Arnold have announced their intentions to retire effective Dec. 31.

“I want to thank each of these outstanding individuals for their many years of service to the City of Greenville,” McLendon said.

“They will be missed, and we wish them all the best in their well-deserved retirement.”

Ingram will retire after 31 years of service to the City of Greenville.

He has dedicated 45 years to law enforcement with previous service to the cities of Ozark and Daleville.

He began his tenure as chief with the Greenville Police Department on March 15, 1985.

Phillips’ 25-year career with the Greenville Fire Department began as a firefighter in October 1991, and he worked his way through the ranks as a leader in the GFD.

Previously, he was a senior fire captain with the department before moving into the position of chief on March 25, 2013.

Arnold has been with the city nearly 25 years, beginning her service in the fire department under Chief Mike Phillips.

In May 1993, she moved to the city clerk’s office and became assistant to city clerk Linda VandenBosch and assumed the role and duties of city clerk-treasurer in December 2006.

Greenville Police Department captain Justin Lovvorn will be appointed as police chief.  Lovvorn has 20 years of law enforcement experience, including 18 of which have been spent with the Greenville Police Department.

Dee Blackmon, who has 17 years of experience with the city, will be appointed as interim city clerk.

Tim Warrick, who has 17 years of experience with the Greenville Fire Department, will be appointed interim fire chief.

According to McLendon, the city clerk and fire chief positions will be evaluated at the first of the year.  “At that time we will determine if we will move forward with opening these two position up to applicants,” McLendon said.

“Although these three key leaders will be truly missed in their roles with the city, we are embracing this as an opportunity to welcome new ideas and thoughts.  I am looking forward to what the future holds for the city.”

Lovvorn, Blackmon and Warrick will be sworn in at the city’s official swearing in ceremony to be held Monday, Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m., followed by the city’s regular city council meeting.