A small city in Alabama, Hanceville, has placed its entire police force on administrative leave. This decision came a day after a grand jury recommended the department be disbanded, citing its operation as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency.
Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer announced on Thursday that the Cullman County Sheriff's Department would temporarily assume law enforcement duties. This measure provides the city time to decide on future actions. "It is unfortunate that the actions of a few have tarnished our city's good name," Sawyer commented in a previous statement.
The Cullman County District Attorney, Champ Crocker, disclosed on Wednesday that the grand jury had indicted the Hanceville police chief, Marlin, along with four officers: Cody Alan Kelso, Drew Shelnut, Jason Wilbanks, reserve officer Eric Michael Kelso, and his wife, Donna Kelso. These individuals face charges related to mishandling or removing materials from the department's evidence room, as reported by AL.com.
The indictments further detail a variety of offenses, including the misuse of state criminal databases and the distribution of controlled substances among the officers.
The grand jury identified a rampant culture of corruption within the department and recommended its immediate abolition. "It is disturbing on many, many levels," Crocker remarked, highlighting the unfettered access to the evidence room while refraining from discussing specific allegations.
The investigation revealed that the department's mismanagement rendered the evidence unusable.
The investigation began following the death of a dispatcher with access to the evidence room. The dispatcher was found dead at work, prompting the involvement of the State Bureau of Investigations. According to Crocker, "After the dispatcher died in August of 2024, I was insistent on the State Bureau of Investigation coming in to investigate everything going on at Hanceville."
An autopsy revealed the dispatcher died from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl and other drugs, as reported by The Cullman Times. Subsequently, Crocker presented the case to the grand jury.
Crocker expressed hope that the citizens of Hanceville and Cullman County recognize the seriousness of the situation. "The citizens of Hanceville deserve to have public safety," he asserted.
The city council is scheduled to meet on February 27 to deliberate the future of the police department. Hanceville, a city with approximately 3,200 residents, is located about 45 miles north of Birmingham. The police department comprised eight officers as of August, according to The Cullman Times.
Longtime Hanceville resident Mike Calvert expressed surprise at the arrests, stating, "Very shocked. Their presence has always been here as long as I could remember and it's just a very sad situation, very sad." Conversely, resident Amanda Hale was not surprised, noting both good officers and others who misuse their badges for personal gain.
