Hanceville, Alabama – In a sweeping decision, a small Alabama town has dismissed all remaining personnel from its police department following a grand jury’s severe indictment of several officers last month, including the police chief. The drastic measures were taken after the indictment implicated the officers in various crimes ranging from drug trafficking to misuse of official capacities, which culminated in the recommendation that the police department be permanently disbanded.
The crisis began after the tragic death of 49-year-old dispatcher Christopher Willingham on August 23, 2024. An autopsy pointed to a fatal mix of multiple drugs as the cause, sparking a thorough investigation by a Cullman County grand jury. Their findings led to the indictment of five officers and an officer’s spouse on multiple charges. The accused include Officers Cody Alan Kelso and Jason Scott Wilbanks, charged with evidence tampering among other crimes, while Officer Eric Kelso and his wife Donna face charges for illegal drug distribution.
Rounding out the group charged, Officer William Andrew Shelnut and Chief Jason Shane Marlin were accused of tampering with physical evidence. Chief Marlin faces an additional charge of failing to report ethics violations.
Amid calls of “general incompetence” and “negligence,” the grand jury’s unprecedented recommendation was for the disbandment of the department and for regional law enforcement to assume responsibility for the town’s security needs. This led the Hanceville City Council, in response to the mounting pressure and the need for accountability, to vote to suspend the department’s operations and begin plans to reconstruct it.
In the interim, Mayor Jimmy Sawyer was tasked with the painful duty of issuing termination notices, effective immediately, to the 12 remaining employees of the department. He assured that all affected staff would be compensated through March 21, and their medical benefits would extend until April 1. The mayor also stated that should the department be restructured, former employees are welcome to reapply for their positions.
The dismantling of the police department has stirred mixed emotions within the community, particularly among the dismissed staff. In a statement citing disillusionment with town leadership, an unnamed group of former employees expressed their betrayal. They claimed assurances of job security from leadership that were later reneged, underscoring a lack of transparency and support during these developments.
Adding to the police department’s turmoil, the former mayor of Hanceville, Kenneth Nail, resigned his post in late 2023 after admitting guilt to charges involving the misuse of city resources, which included exploiting police and correctional workers for private projects. He had been a prominent local figure since 2008.
As this small community navigates the complex implications of these recent upheavals, including rebuilding its tarnished law enforcement agency, the city stands at a pivotal juncture in shaping its future path towards governance and accountability.
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