Fate of Hanceville Police Department tabled as residents express frustrations

HANCEVILLE CITY HALL AS MORE THAN THREE DOZEN RESIDENTS GATHERED FOR THE FIRST SPECIAL CALLED MEETING SINCE THE ARREST OF FOUR CITY OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE HANCEVILLE POLICE CHIEF AND A GRAND JURY RECOMMENDATION THAT THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT BE ABOLISHED. YOU NEED TO MEET YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS OF HANCEVILLE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU GOOGLE HANCEVILLE, THE ONLY THING THAT COMES UP IS THIS MESS. FOR SOME, LIKE BRIAN CAMPBELL, THIS MEETING WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT. THAT WAS ALL PERPETRATED BY A911 CALL WHERE THE PERSON HUNG UP. WHEN I GOT TO THE JAIL, I MY ABUSE CONTINUED. MAYBE HIS PROCEDURE, I DON’T KNOW. I WAS HANDCUFFED TO A BENCH RIGHT OUT THERE. BUT NOW, WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT FACING FELONY CHARGES, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? AND WHAT ARE THE CITY’S OPTIONS? WHAT WILL THE RESPONSE TIMES BE? HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND HELP ME RIGHT. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THERE IS NO POLICE DEPARTMENT? SOME BELIEVE KEEPING THE CULLMAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN CHARGE OF HANCEVILLE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE BEST CHOICE. WE SHOULD TAKE THE GRAND JURY’S RECOMMENDATION. I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO HAVE THE CULLMAN COUNTY TAKE OVER THE POLICE FUNCTION HERE. BUT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES, SAY THEY WANT A LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAYBE WE SEEK HIS ASSISTANCE FOR SOMEBODY IN THE CULLMAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE RIGHT NOW TO RECOMMEND SOMEBODY TO BE OUR INTERIM POLICE CHIEF. LET’S NOT GET RID OF ALL OF IT. GET RID OF THE DIRT. GET RID OF THE FRAUD. WE LOVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY. WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FALL. WHICH IS WHY 12 OF US HAVE CHOSEN TO STAY AND REMAIN LOYAL TO YOU. I CAUGHT UP WITH COUNCILWOMAN PATTY DEEN AS SHE WALKED OUT OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. WILL HANCEVILLE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN MIND IN TWO MONTHS? I DON’T KNOW. I HONESTLY DON’T KNOW. IT’S JUST SOMETHING WE’VE ALL GOT TO GET TOGETHER AND SIT DOWN AND FIGURE IT OUT, AND IT’S GOING TO TAKE TIME, BECAUSE WE’VE GOT TO DO IT RIGHT. THE NEXT MEETING IS SET FOR MARCH 10TH AT 5 P.M. AT T

Video above: Previous coverageEmotions ran high at a City Council meeting in Hanceville Thursday night as residents weighed in on the uncertain future of the town's police department.During the meeting, many called for the Cullman County Sheriff's Office to take over law enforcement duties on a more permanent basis. "You should take the grand jury's recommendation," said Charles Wright. "I think it would be more cost-effective to have Cullman County take over the police function."The vast majority, however, maintained hope that, despite the "rampant culture of corruption" uncovered by state investigators, the local police force could still be cleaned up and rebuilt."Let's not get rid of all of it, get rid of the dirt, get rid of the fraud," said Kimberly Love.Feelings of distrust and shame were expressed by residents for hours, with many calling the recent developments a major blow to the town's reputation and their pride in it."You need to meet your responsibility and take care of the citizens of Hanceville," said Daria Sullivan. "Right now, if you google Hanceville, the only thing that comes up is this mess.""Trust is hard to build and easy to destroy," said another resident. "Right now this trust we have is in pieces."Some shared allegations of unprofessional and sometimes violent interactions with officers; city leaders stated they were shocked. Ultimately, a decision on the police department's future was tabled to give the council more time to discuss the information at hand. A special meeting to further the matter was called for Monday, March 10. This follows a temporary takeover of law enforcement responsibilities in the area by the Cullman County Sheriff's Office after a grand jury called for the department's immediate abolishment.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.Other findings included:The negligence of the Hanceville Police Department directly resulted in the recent death of local dispatcher Chris WillinghamIt was determined that 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 unusableThe 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 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 and one of their spouses, all of whom were charged with felonies, were also announced. This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest stories with the �� 13 app. You can download it here.

Video above: Previous coverage

Emotions ran high at a City Council meeting in Hanceville Thursday night as residents weighed in on the uncertain future of the town's police department.

During the meeting, many called for the Cullman County Sheriff's Office to take over law enforcement duties on a more permanent basis.

"You should take the grand jury's recommendation," said Charles Wright. "I think it would be more cost-effective to have Cullman County take over the police function."

The vast majority, however, maintained hope that, despite the "rampant culture of corruption" uncovered by state investigators, the local police force could still be cleaned up and rebuilt.

"Let's not get rid of all of it, get rid of the dirt, get rid of the fraud," said Kimberly Love.

Feelings of distrust and shame were expressed by residents for hours, with many calling the recent developments a major blow to the town's reputation and their pride in it.

"You need to meet your responsibility and take care of the citizens of Hanceville," said Daria Sullivan. "Right now, if you google Hanceville, the only thing that comes up is this mess."

"Trust is hard to build and easy to destroy," said another resident. "Right now this trust we have is in pieces."

Some shared allegations of unprofessional and sometimes violent interactions with officers; city leaders stated they were shocked.

Ultimately, a decision on the police department's future was tabled to give the council more time to discuss the information at hand. A special meeting to further the matter was called for Monday, March 10.

This follows a temporary takeover of law enforcement responsibilities in the area by the Cullman County Sheriff's Office after a grand jury called for the department's immediate abolishment.

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.

Other findings included:

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

It was determined that 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 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 and one of their spouses, all of whom were charged with felonies, were also announced.

�� 13

This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest stories with the �� 13 app. You can download it here.

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