Grand jury calls for abolition of Hanceville Police Department; 5 officers arrested

Grand jury calls for abolition of Hanceville Police Department after arrest of officers, death of dispatcher

Coleman County Sheriff Matt Gentry and District Attorney Champ Crocker are standing here to make *** tough statement. This is *** sad day for law enforcement. *** grand jury recently said these four officers, Police Chief Jason Marlin and an officer's wife, have failed the public and crime victims. Their charges vary from unlawful distribution of *** controlled substance, using their position for personal gain, failing to report ethics crime, and tampering with evidence. The, the unfettered access that *** lot of people had to the evidence room, I believe is the basis, uh, for that recommendation. Crocker tells us the evidence room was not secure. Too many unauthorized people had access to it. In August, dispatcher Chris Willingham died from fentanyl. No one is directly charged with his death. Maybe fentanyl was not kept in *** secure place that may have led to maybe too much exposure to Mr. Willingham's death. I, I, I would just say that um. Uh, nothing was secure about the, the evidence room, and when, uh, when Mr. Willingham was discovered, there was evidence in his office. The grand jury recommended the department be abolished, which means the Coleman Sheriff's Office may have to protect Hancesville citizens. We have not received *** formal request yet at the sheriff's office to take over, uh, the Hansville area in Coleman County. But we are making preparations. Sheriff Gentry says all the officers made bond, but today is difficult for the good ones who carry the badge with honesty and integrity. It's heartbreaking for us because now we have to defend ourselves more to doing what's right and really it shouldn't be that way. In Hancesville, I'm Magdalo Leant, �� 13.

Grand jury calls for abolition of Hanceville Police Department after arrest of officers, death of dispatcher

A Cullman County Grand Jury is calling for the immediate abolishment of the Hanceville Police Department following the arrests of multiple officers and the death of a dispatcher.During a joint press conference between the Cullman County District Attorney and Sheriff's Offices, DA Champ Crocker revealed that the Grand Jury found the department to be a "particular and ongoing threat to public safety" based on the findings of a recent investigation from the State Bureau of Investigation."There is a rampant culture of corruption in the Hanceville Police Department, which has recently operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency," read court documents obtained by �� 13 at the press conference.Other findings include:The negligence of the Hanceville Police Department directly resulted in the recent death of local dispatcher Chris WillinghamIt was determined that Mr. Willingham died from “combined toxic effects of fentanyl, gabapentin, diazepam, amphetamine, carisoprodol, and methocarbamol�� "Unfettered" access to the HPD evidence room played a role in Willingham's deathNo officers have been charged in connection to Willingham's deathHanceville police failed to account for, preserve and maintain evidence that is now unusable The evidence room at the Hanceville Police Department was not secure and was routinely accessed by individuals who were not authorized to do so. Perpetrators routinely used a broomstick to jimmy open the door by pushing it through a hole in the evidence room's exterior wallSecurity footage captured repeatedly captured these eventsHanceville police have failed to maintain the Hanceville Jail and meet the basic health and safety concerns of both inmates and staffCurrent inmates may be transferred to the Cullman County JailThe arrests of several Hanceville police officers were also announced during the press conference. All of the following charges are felonies with the exception of tampering with physical evidence:Cody Alan KelsoTwo counts of computer tamperingSolicitation to commit a controlled substance crimeUse of office for personal gainTampering with physical evidenceJason Scott WillbanksTwo counts of computer tamperingTwo counts of use of office for personal gainTampering with physical evidenceTwo counts of solicitation to commit a controlled substance crimeJason Shane MarlinTwo counts of failure to report ethics crimeTampering with physical evidenceWilliam Andrew ShelnuttTampering with physical evidenceEric Michael KelsoFour counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substanceTwo counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substanceAdditionally, Eric Kelso's wife, Donna Reid Kelso has been charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance."With today's indictments, these defendants find themselves on the opposite end of the laws they were sworn to uphold," read a statement from the district attorney's office. "Wearing a badge is a privilege and honor that most law enforcement officers take seriously. A badge is not a license to corrupt the administration of justice. These Hanceville Police officers' actions undermine the hard work of the entire law enforcement community across our great state."The Cullman County Sheriff's Office is preparing to take over law enforcement responsibilities if the Hanceville Police Department is officially disbanded. Negotiations have already begun.Hanceville Mayor Jimmy Sawyer posted a statement on social media saying the Hanceville Police Department has fallen short in its mission to serve the people. Sawyer said, "As mayor, alongside the City Council, I assure that we will continue to fully cooperate with all investigations and authorities." Sawyer says he's spoken with district attorney Crocker and the city has agreed that the evidence room should be audited by the appropriate authorities.The city attorney tells �� 13 there will be a special called meeting next week to discuss next steps for the Hanceville Police Department. A previous version of this article stated that the Cullman County District Attorney's Office was advocating for the abolition of the Hanceville Police Department rather than the Grand Jury. This has been corrected.

CULLMAN, Ala. —

A Cullman County Grand Jury is calling for the immediate abolishment of the Hanceville Police Department following the arrests of multiple officers and the death of a dispatcher.

During a joint press conference between the Cullman County District Attorney and Sheriff's Offices, DA Champ Crocker revealed that the Grand Jury found the department to be a "particular and ongoing threat to public safety" based on the findings of a recent investigation from the State Bureau of Investigation.

"There is a rampant culture of corruption in the Hanceville Police Department, which has recently operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency," read court documents obtained by �� 13 at the press conference.

Other findings include:

The negligence of the Hanceville Police Department directly resulted in the recent death of local dispatcher Chris Willingham

It was determined that Mr. Willingham died from “combined toxic effects of fentanyl, gabapentin, diazepam, amphetamine, carisoprodol, and methocarbamol��
"Unfettered" access to the HPD evidence room played a role in Willingham's death
No officers have been charged in connection to Willingham's death

Hanceville police failed to account for, preserve and maintain evidence that is now unusable

Hanceville Police Department evidence room surveillance

Cullman County District Attorney's Office

The evidence room at the Hanceville Police Department was not secure and was routinely accessed by individuals who were not authorized to do so.
Perpetrators routinely used a broomstick to jimmy open the door by pushing it through a hole in the evidence room's exterior wall
Security footage captured repeatedly captured these events

Hanceville police have failed to maintain the Hanceville Jail and meet the basic health and safety concerns of both inmates and staff

Current inmates may be transferred to the Cullman County Jail

The arrests of several Hanceville police officers were also announced during the press conference. All of the following charges are felonies with the exception of tampering with physical evidence: