Hanceville Mayor releases statement on decision to disband police department

Yahoo

17-03-2025

HANCEVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The City of Hanceville's Mayor released a statement Monday about the decision to disband the Hanceville Police Department.
Mayor Jim Sawyer said that looking ahead, 'the city's goal is to establish a new police department built on a foundation of integrity and service.'
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You can read the full statement from the mayor below.
Last week, the City of Hanceville faced the difficult decision to disband the Hanceville Police Department. This step was not taken lightly and came after careful deliberation, consultation with legal counsel, and a thorough analysis of the city's financial standing. While the hope had been to retain the department in its current form, it became clear that the best path forward, both legally and financially, was to rebuild from the ground up.
This decision allows us to fulfill our responsibility as stewards of the city's limited tax revenues while ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. We are deeply grateful to the officers and employees who served honorably, and this decision in no way diminishes our appreciation for their dedication. For those impacted by this decision, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and regret for the challenges this may bring.
Looking ahead, the city's goal is to establish a new police department built on a foundation of integrity and service. We are committed to hiring a new chief who can lead this effort and assemble a team that embodies the values of our community.
In the interim, we remain thankful to the Cullman County Sheriff's Office for stepping in to provide law enforcement coverage and ensuring that our residents remain safe during this transition.
The City of Hanceville remains focused on building a stronger future for our citizens, and we thank our community for its understanding and support as we move forward together.
Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer
On Friday, Sawyer fired the remainder of the police department.
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The letter, given to the Hanceville Police Dispatcher during a meeting with Mayor Sawyer, said due to the pending criminal charges against several former Hanceville Police officers and the recent recommendations from the grand jury to abolish the police department it has been decided that it is in the best interest of the city to cut the rest of the department.
There were 12 remaining employees with the department after five officers, including the chief, were indicted last month.
The letter states that the remaining employees will be paid through March 21. Any sick or vacation time they have remaining will be paid out. Medical insurance will remain through April 1.
Sawyer said that the employees affected by this decision would be able to apply for a job if the department were to reopen.
On Feb. 20, the entire department was placed on administrative leave and a Cullman County grand jury indicted five Hanceville police officers and one of their spouses and recommended the department be abolished as a result of an investigation following a dispatcher's overdose death in August 2024.
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