The small town of Hanceville, which is home to approximately 3,300 residents, is reeling after a shocking corruption scandal led city officials to shut down the entire police department.
Following the indictment of five officers and one officer’s spouse, Mayor Jim Sawyer announced on February 20 that all department employees have been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately.
The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office will now handle all law enforcement duties in Hanceville, ensuring that residents still have police protection while the city figures out its next steps. This drastic move follows an investigation into the tragic death of police dispatcher Christopher Willingham last August.
He was found dead in his office, and an autopsy later revealed he had lethal levels of multiple drugs in his system.
The investigation uncovered widespread misconduct within the department, including drug distribution, evidence tampering, and abuse of power.
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Mayor Sawyer acknowledged the gravity of the situation and thanked Sheriff Matt Gentry for stepping in to support the community.
The city council will meet on February 27 to discuss the future of the department, including whether it should be permanently disbanded. The grand jury recommended abolishing the department, which currently has nine employees and operates on a $1.5 million budget.
For now, residents are left with more questions than answers, wondering what is next.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
