HANCEVILLE, Ala. — In a significant development for public safety, the entire police force of a small Alabama city has been placed on administrative leave following a grand jury’s alarming recommendation to disband the police department. The grand jury expressed that the department had functioned more as a “criminal enterprise” than a professional law enforcement agency.
Mayor Jim Sawyer announced on Thursday that, during this transitional period, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Department will assume control over law enforcement responsibilities while city officials consider their next moves.
On Wednesday, Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker revealed that the grand jury had indicted the police chief of Hanceville and four officers from the department. They are facing charges related to the improper handling and removal of materials from the department’s evidence room, as well as misuse of state criminal databases and allegedly distributing controlled substances among themselves, as documented in the indictments.
The grand jury characterized the situation as a “rampant culture of corruption,” which prompted its recommendation for the immediate dissolution of the police department. “This is troubling on many levels,” Crocker stated in a phone interview. He indicated that there had been unrestricted access to the evidence room, but he did not provide specific details regarding the allegations involved.
The investigation commenced after the State Bureau of Investigations was alerted to look into the department’s practices, following the death of a dispatcher who had access to the evidence room. An autopsy determined that the dispatcher had passed away due to the combined toxic effects of fentanyl and various other drugs, according to reports. Consequently, Crocker brought the findings before the grand jury.
“I trust that the citizens of Hanceville and Cullman County recognize the seriousness with which we are approaching this issue. The residents of Hanceville deserve reliable public safety,” said Crocker.
The city council is scheduled to convene on February 27 to deliberate on the future of the police department, as expressed by the mayor. Hanceville, with a population of around 3,200, is located approximately 45 miles north of Birmingham. As per recent records, the police force comprised a total of eight officers as of August.
