Alabama Grand Jury Calls for Immediate Abolition of Hanceville Police Department Amid Corruption Claims

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An Alabama grand jury has recommended the immediate abolition of the Hanceville Police Department, citing "rampant culture of corruption" within the agency. This recommendation follows the indictment and arrest of five officers, including Police Chief Jason Shane Marlin, charged with various offenses such as tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime, according to Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker.

The grand jury's findings underscore severe failures within the department, particularly related to the management of its evidence room, which has compromised ongoing investigations. Officials indicated that the circumstances surrounding the death of dispatcher Christopher Michael Willingham, who died from a toxic combination of drugs, were also linked to departmental negligence.

Mayor Jim Sawyer stated that the City Council is taking the grand jury's findings seriously and will act decisively to restore public trust. The case has sparked widespread concern about law enforcement integrity in the small community of Hanceville, which has a population of around 3,000.

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