The recommendation came after an investigation into the death of a dispatcher last August found the department rife with “general incompetence” and “negligence.”
An Alabama grand jury has indicted five members of the Hanceville Police Department — including the department’s chief — in connection with the death of a dispatcher in August 2024.
The wife of one of the officers was also indicted, and the grand jury recommended that the department be disbanded.
Christopher Michael Willingham, 49, was found dead in his office on August 23, 2024, The Cullman Tribune reported. He had last been seen alive the day before. An autopsy revealed that Willingham died from a combination of “fentanyl, gabapentin, diasepam, amphetamine, carisoprodol, and methocarbamol.”
Officers Cody Alan Kelso, Jason Scott Wilbanks, William Andrew Shelnutt, and Eric Michael Kelso and Chief of Police Jason Shane Marlin were indicted on a variety of charges, along with Donna Reid Kelso, who is married to Eric Kelso, Cullman Cony Sheriff Matt Gentry and District Attorney Champ Crocker said at a news conference on Wednesday.
The grand jury charged Cody Kelso and Wilbanks with computer tampering, solicitation to commit a controlled substance crime, use of office for personal gain, and tampering with physical evidence. Eric and Donna Kelso were indicted on drug charges — unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Shelnut and Marlin were both charged with tampering with physical evidence, and the chief was additionally charged with failur to report an ethics crimes.
“With today’s indictments, these defendants find themselves on the opposite end of the laws they were sworn to uphold,” court documents said. “Wearing a badge is a privilege and honor that most law enforcement officers take seriously. A badge is not a license to corrupt the administration of justice. These Hanceville Police officers’ actions undermine the hard work of the entire law enforcement community across our great state.”
The grand jury made a number of recommendations, including suspended all the indicted officers from law enforcement and immediately abolishing the city’s police department and handing over law enforcement to another local or state agency.
“Based upon the investigation by State Bureau of Investigation, we find that the Hanceville Police Department is a particular and ongoing threat to public safety,” the grand jury said. ‘There is a rampart culture of corruption in the Hanceville PD which has recently operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency.”
The grand jury said the department “abused public trust by its failure of oversight, lack of leadership and negligent training and hiring.” It further said the members of the grand jury had “zero confidence” in the department’s ability to maintain a safe jail for inmates or personnel after a tour of the facility.
“The death of former Hanceville dispatcher Chris Willingham is the direct result of Hanceville Police Department’s negligence, lack of procedure, general incompetence, and disregard for human life,” the grand jury said.
After the news conference, Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer released a statement that did not address any of the grand jury’s comments, other than to say the city council “will carefully consider all recommendations and act swiftly and decisively to address the problems within the Police Department.”
Sawyer did say that he agreed with the district attorney than an audit of the evidence room was warranted. He did not say if the indicted cops were still employed by the city.
The indicted officers and spouse were all released on bonds ranging from $15,000 to $60,000, according to WAFF.
Hanceville is a tiny city in Cullman County between Birmingham and Huntsville in north Alabama.
