Alabama City to Rebuild Police Department Following Indictments and Grand Jury Recommendations

The city of Hanceville, Alabama, has made the decision to suspend operations of its police department following troubling allegations and criminal indictments involving the police chief and four officers. The Hanceville City Council voted unanimously Monday to pause department operations and initiate a search for a new police chief responsible for rebuilding the force.

This action came after a grand jury investigation concluded that the local police department was operating more like a criminal enterprise rather than a law enforcement agency. The grand jury outlined the department's conduct as posing a continual threat to public safety, prompting Mayor Jim Sawyer to place all staff members on administrative leave last month.

Former police chief Shane Marlin along with four other officers and one of the officers' wives are now facing several charges, including tampering with evidence and misuse of performance-enhancing drugs. All six are scheduled for arraignment later this month. Attempts to contact Marlin for comment have been unsuccessful, with disconnect notices at phone numbers associated with him.

The grand jury's investigation was triggered by the death of Christopher Michael Willingham, a 49-year-old 911 dispatcher found deceased at work. According to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, Willingham's death was caused by an accidental overdose from fentanyl and other substances. While the officers were not directly charged for his death, Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker attributed the tragedy to the department's negligence, incompetence, and disregard for human life.

Following the incident, Crocker recommended having the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) involved, but Marlin reportedly rejected this suggestion. Crocker took the initiative to involve the SBI for their review of the death. Preliminary results from an evidence room audit have revealed the disappearance of cocaine, oxycodone pills, heroin, a handgun, and approximately 30 undocumented firearms. Crocker shared disturbing details of a loosely secured evidence room, where individuals regularly entered by using a broomstick to pry open the door through a hole in the wall.

At the City Council meeting announcing these measures, residents were divided in their reactions. Some community members praised the city's decision to dismantle and overhaul the embattled department, while others felt the move was harsh on employees who had committed no wrongdoing.

Until the city can successfully rebuild and staff a new police department, law enforcement services in Hanceville, located roughly 45 miles north of Birmingham, are being managed by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Matt Gentry noted that this arrangement comes at a cost to the city of approximately $25,000 each month.