Alabama Police Department Faces Abolition Over Corruption Charges

A grand jury has recommended disbanding the Hanceville Police Department after indicting its chief, four officers, and a spouse on corruption and drug-related charges.

The grand jury cited a 'rampant culture of corruption' in the Hanceville Police Department, which it described as operating more like a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency.
Five officers, including the police chief, and one officer's spouse were indicted on charges ranging from evidence tampering to unlawful drug distribution and misuse of official office.
The investigation followed the 2024 overdose death of dispatcher Christopher Willingham, which the grand jury linked to departmental negligence and unsecured access to the evidence room.
Security footage revealed unauthorized access to the evidence room, which was compromised by a hole in the wall and a broomstick used to bypass the locked door, rendering evidence unusable in court.
Hanceville's mayor and city council are reviewing the grand jury's recommendation to abolish the department, with the Cullman County Sheriff's Office temporarily taking over law enforcement duties.