Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person The Hanceville City Council meeting brought tense and emotional moments as citizens spoke their mind following the indictments of five city police officers including the Chief of Police Jason Marlin Tania Wilcox is Hanceville's City Clerk She took to the podium to speak directly to the city about her experience with the police department and there's a lot of that is still being investigated." Wilcox said the city requested help to authorities five months before Chris Willingham She explained the city was promised help was on the way See More: Autopsy reveals Hanceville dispatcher's death in 2024 caused by toxic drug combination Wilcox described what happened following Willingham's death She said the police department did everything they could to keep the city in the dark during the investigation See More: 'Culture of corruption': Five Hanceville police officers indicted amid department probe "Until I knew they were breaking the law." police department employees plotted against her if the 'proper authorities' don't bring to light She said she kept a detailed records of what went down and said they were doing their best to make the right decision for Hanceville Following her comments Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer maintains he knew nothing about the corruption a situation that caught us completely off guard We've only had a week to think about this "Where do we go from here?'" Sawyer said the council's number one priority is the city's safety Wilcox wasn't the only city employee to speak out at the meeting who say they have been cleared of any wrongdoing One recommending a council member be the liaison between the police department and council "The chief needs to have a liaison from the council that they need to report everything to Y'all need to know everything that's going on in your police department Y'all have a right to know everything that's going on in the police department." extensive background check with strict policies Another women came to the podium who identified herself as the 911 Dispatch and Corrections Supervisor She explained to the community how she believes improvements have been made already within the department She said 12 employees have decided to stay with the city she claims improved policies and procedures have been implemented department wide but is also in the process of continued change," the supervisor explained The supervisor said new training programs for patrol officers and dispatchers have been implemented and concerns were expressed over the jail "Since Fall of 2024 we have been actively making changes to better this department and we ask for the opportunity to continue." She finished her statement by saying Willingham's death was a tragic time for not only his family but also the department The accusations of the grand jury "were disrespectful and unnecessary." The grand jury found Willingham's death was a direct result of Hanceville Police Department's negligence Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHANCEVILLE, Ala. (WBRC) - All Hanceville Police Department officers and employees have been let go and relieved of duties effective Friday This comes just after multiple officers, including the chief, were indicted and accused of poorly running the department and managing the evidence room One officer who was released this statement to WRBC: “We as a group of former employees are hurt and saddened by the lack of communication by the city leadership We have met and discussed this with the leadership and we were told multiple times that we were going to be ok only to be turned around and stabbed in the back WBRC obtained the following letter from the city to the officer Due to pending criminal charges and the recent recommendations from the Grand Jury to immediately abolish the police department and whereas the department’s service capability has significantly decreased due to employee resignations it has been decided that it is in the best interest of the city to have a reduction in force at this time for the remaining police department employees that have been on paid administrative leave since February 20 You will receive any vacation and/or sick leave pay according to your eligibility and the city’s employee handbook procedure If you have medical insurance through the city it will remain in effect until April 1 any available jobs will be posted and you may apply according to the requirements You have the right to request a hearing regarding the end of your employment within 10 days of receipt of this notice by submitting a written request to the City of Hanceville Human Resource Department Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer also included a statement about disbanding the department Statement from Hanceville Mayor by wbrcnews on Scribd WBRC has reached out to city officials who so far have no comment Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here Statement from Hanceville Mayor by wbrcnews on Scribd A Hanceville resident gives an emotional testimony about whether the local police department should be disbanded Residents line up to testify about whether the local police department should be disbanded This image from a security camera footage provided by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office shows an individual who works at there sticks his head and upper body in the hole attempting to open the door to the evidence room at the Hanceville Police Department in Hanceville Officials said the evidence room was not kept secure and could be accessed by a hole on the wall This undated photo provided by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office shows a hole on the wall next to the door to the evidence room at the Hanceville Police Department in Hanceville Officials said the evidence room was not kept secure and could be accessed by the hole on the wall Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry speaks at a press conference Wednesday Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker speaks at a press conference Wednesday (AP) — As a small Alabama city weighs whether to disband its police department accused of having a “rampant culture of corruption,” residents are split over how to weigh the need for public safety against longstanding misconduct were filled to capacity on Thursday evening forcing some to crane their necks through an open front door to hear the emotional testimony that took place Attorneys for the four indicted officers didn’t respond to emailed requests by The Associated Press for comment on Thursday afternoon No attorney was listed for the police chief and he did not respond to a phone call to a number listed under his name Many attendees on Thursday said they hoped the department would be restaffed and expressed concerns about how public safety would be impacted without a local department Others said misconduct predates the most recent scandal that sparked widespread outcry in the city of approximately 3,200 people about 45 miles (70 kilometers) north of Birmingham “The actions of a few has shaken the very trust between law enforcement and the people they were meant to protect,” Robert Powell lifelong Hanceville resident and civics teacher said The grand jury found that departmental negligence played a role in the April 2024 death of a dispatcher who was found dead at work from a suspected drug overdose Hanceville District Attorney Champ Crocker did not elaborate on the finding but he said that “nothing was secure about the evidence room” and the dispatcher had access to it on his final day of work But city clerk Tania Wilcox said she complained about separate corruption allegations in the police department to the county five months before the dispatcher died of an overdose Wilcox didn’t specify what her complaints were but she said nothing was done until the dispatcher died Wilcox said that police “did everything they possibly could” to keep the city council “from getting any information” about the dispatcher’s death Wilcox echoed council members’ assertions that they did not know about the charges against the officers until Febuary “I have had my life threatened over what went on at this police department,” Wilcox said Many tearfully testified to the council about ways that some officers in the department had undermined trust through excessive force and harassment before the indictments these news microphones have been in this town since I was a kid.” said Michael Waldorp Others took to the stand to defend police officers and city employees joined a chorus of residents who said that they thought the department should be rebuilt Johnson said that he worried about responsiveness if law enforcement duties are delegated to the sheriff’s department The department had approximately 12 officers prior to the indictment But the scandal has led some officers who weren’t implicated in misconduct to resign — leaving the department with just four officers who are now on administrative leave Former Hanceville officer Terry Cupp quit following the indictments just one month after the mayor honored him for resuscitating the life of an infant City council member Patty Dean-Tucker questioned what would happen if he is not replaced “Where would that family be if we hadn’t had him here It could’ve been your grandchildren,” Dean-Tucker said The council called for a special meeting to consider the future of the department on March 10 Sign In Subscribe Now The BC Wildfire Service will conduct prescribed burns along Highway 20 between Hanceville and Chilanko Forks as early as Monday March 10 to help prevent uncontrolled fires.  Smoke and flames could be visible from Riske Creek Burning will only proceed if weather conditions are appropriate.  Prescribed burns will cover a high-risk area of up to 35 hectares and will be closely monitored by fire crews Traffic control will be in place to ensure the safety of crews and the public Smoke could linger for several days following burns and surrounding communities are encouraged to take appropriate measures to prevent potential health issues such as the irritation of eyes and respiratory tracts or the worsening of pre-existing lung and heart conditions.  it is recommended to reduce the length and intensity of outdoor activities to run portable air cleaners while keeping windows and doors closed and to seek medical care if you are displaying severe symptoms The prescribed burns are being conducted in partnership with Tsilhqot’in communities the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional District and BC Hydro.  Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines — The search for a new police chief in Hanceville is nearing its end one month after the city launched the process "We could have some decision maybe by the end of next week but being Holy Week it might be the following week." The mayor asked for an update from the hiring committee on the search for a new police chief Stam said the city received approximately 20 applications for the position and the hiring committee has interviewed three candidates Stam noted that the next step involves background checks "Two of the gentleman did go and turn in their applications for background checks and we were told this morning we should have those Monday," he said He said the Cullman Police Department offered to run the background checks for the city Stam highlighted the qualities the committee is seeking in the next police chief emphasizing supervisory experience and extensive law enforcement backgrounds "Basically they had supervisory experience one of them actually have some federal experience With what transpired the last time we needed somebody to be hands-on know how to motivate officers and hire new officers and interview the ones that we had that we had to layoff until we decide to rebuild the police department ," Stam said Read More: Hanceville reveals hiring committee for new police chief the city plans to continue rebuilding the department with about eight to nine officers a process Stam said that could take a few months The department could have as many as 13-14 employees Stam expressed optimism about the candidates' focus on community involvement "The three that interviewed talked a lot about community involvement And really get some good officers and doing the background checks and not just trying to get bodies," he said." Hanceville is in the past did little city events and the police were there and they would mingle with the citizens Stam said both candidates in which they will run background checks on are impressive The next part of the process is for the hiring committee to make their recommendation to the mayor and city council The Cullman County Sheriff's Office is still providing coverage to the city of Hanceville during this time The hiring committee is expected to make a recommendation to the mayor and city council soon (WBMA) - Cullman County officials announced the arrests and indictments of five Hanceville police officers A spouse of one of the officers was also arrested Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker said arrests included Cody Alan Kelso Cody Alan Kelso was charged with two counts of computer tampering solicitation to commit a controlled substance crime Wilbanks was charged with two counts of computer tampering two counts of use of office for personal gain and two counts of solicitation to commit a controlled substance crime was charged with two counts of failure to report ethics crime and tampering with physical evidence Shelnutt was charged with tampering with physical evidence Eric Michael Kelso was charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance Donna Reid Kelso was charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance Crocker said all charges are felonies except tampering with physical evidence these defendants find themselves on the opposite end of the laws they were sworn to uphold 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," said Crocker Crocker also provided multiple recommendations from the grand jury that indicted the officers some of which included disbanding the Hanceville Police Department and another law enforcement agency coming in and taking over taking care of law enforcement in the city The grand jury also said that based on evidence provided by the State Bureau Of Investigation it believes the department is an ongoing threat to public safety it believes there is a rampant culture of corruption and has recently operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency The grand jury also concluded the death of 49-year-old Christopher Michael Willingham was a "direct result of Hanceville Police Department's negligence Crocker went on to explain that one of the concerning things discovered in the investigation was that the department's evidence room was kept insecure Crocker said the room was also accessed by unauthorized personnel had access to the evidence room on his last day at work Willingham was given access to the evidence room He had access to it at his last day at work," said Crocker "I'll just say nothing was secure about the evidence room Willingham was discovered there was evidence in his office." The county coroner confirms Willingham was found dead in his office in August His cause of death was the toxic effects of fentanyl and other drugs Crocker went into detail on how people accessed evidence "One of the most concerning things that we discovered in this process what that Hanceville Police Departments' evidence room was not secure criminal evidence must be secure in order to have that evidence for prosecution and for due process This evidence room was anything but secure," he said He showed photos of a hole in the wall of the evidence room and someone sticking their head through the hole Crocker said people would use the broom stick to "jimmie" the door open Cases with evidence tampering include cases with Hanceville Municipal Court Crocker did not have a number for how many cases are involved but said Any actions taken by the grand jury are up to the city A lawyer for the city said any actions on the police department would have to happen during a council meeting He could not comment if those arrested were still employees with the city The City of Hanceville released a statement It says the city will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation "Such individuals must be held accountable without delay Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry says although no formal request has been made his office is preparing to provide protection to Hanceville if the police department is disbanded "We will do what is necessary to protect the citizens of Hanceville because they're not just citizens of Hanceville they are citizens of Cullman County," Gentry said Crocker does not expect any new charges for those arrested Hanceville Municipal Judge Heath Meherg entered an order calling for an audit of the evidence room and asked state officials to conduct that audit authorities accuse Cody Kelso and Wilbanks are accused of using the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center system to access confidential records to obtain information they were not authorized to have Kelso is accused of sharing some of that information with Eric Kelso All have had their first court appearance and were released on bond Wednesday afternoon and Eric Michael Kelso are set for their next court appearance on March 17 at 9:00 a.m and Shelnutt are scheduled to have their next court appearance on March 21 We will continue to provide coverage on this story Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Hanceville High School's softball program has been fined and placed on probation by the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) The AHSAA said the team violated its Transfer Rule and Rule V regarding coaches' requirements The school must forfeit all games in which ineligible players participated the ineligible players have been assessed restitution for the contests they played in while ineligible The AHSAA also disqualified uncertified coaches from coaching at Hanceville High School for one year — Hanceville senior Karys Henderson has faced some adversity in her life but thanks God for helping her along the way. In this interview Henderson discussed her relationship with her faith and how she wants to help other people with it I’ve been going to church my entire life and have been trying to build my relationship with the Lord I lacked a repentant heart and 100% belief I was missing a true faith in Him and heaven Despite being able to pray to God and learn from Him The Lord didn’t let my soul rest until I made the decision that day to truly repent and believe in His love because it shows God’s unconditional love and mercy and I’m excited to live my life for Him now with my newfound joy.” Henderson said Karys learned so much from that experience and shared some of her favorite Bible verses “I have learned that no amount of pride is worth missing out on God’s purpose for us and the gift of heaven I can’t wait to see what He reveals to me over the coming years and years of my life I’m so thankful that He is a God who teaches us something new every day,” Henderson said “A couple of my favorite Bible verses are will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:6-7) ‘But we have this treasure of jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us but not destroyed.’ (2 Corinthians 4:7-9) These two verses have encouraged me to not be afraid and to rely on the Lord’s strength rather than mine They have also helped me to take a step back from the situation I am in and turn to prayer.” Karys wants to continue sharing what she has learned from her experience with younger people as well “I’m grateful for a God who ultimately loves on people and draws them in A good way that I can and have helped is by simply being a Godly friend/teammate or leading a Bible Study I’m just a servant for God to spread the gospel God has taught me this through a book called “Growing Up” ‘Success in evangelism is in the sharing Our responsibility begins and ends with the sharing of the gospel.’ I have personally struggled with letting my mindset be that it was my job for the person to be saved but I have learned that God will work with the rest and that my purpose is to share and make relationships with the lost,” She said and it just filled my heart to be a part of a church who invests in the lives of kids who are looking for love and hope I pray that He will give me more opportunities to be a disciple I also pray that He pushes me to do so and not turn down a chance like I have in the past.” Karys talked about a mission trip that she went on a few years ago and wants to continue to make a difference in her community She gave advice to any people that want to have a relationship with God as well “I have been a part of only one mission trip so far We stayed in Hanceville to work around the community and nursing home I’ve also done smaller projects at my church but I have been given the opportunity by God to look at every day as going into the mission field I’m serving in the areas God has placed me but I look forward to getting more opportunities in other places,” she said “To those seeking salvation and a relationship There are so many more opportunities to grow closer to God A mentor recently explained to me that when we don’t understand what a piece of text means sit in that uncomfortableness and ask God to reveal His truth to you We are so blessed to serve a Lord that gives us free will but desperately wants us to seek Him He gave His son to us so that we could receive a relationship with Him if we would only accept Him into our hearts.” Karys has many Godly role models in her life that she looks up to “I’m beyond blessed to have many Godly people in my life Having a Christian family and church family has been a privilege and so many more that I sometimes take for granted Each and every one of them are just as important as the next and I’m so thankful to have received the gift of numerous brothers and sisters in Christ,” Henderson said “I have learned that God wants us to trust in Him as our saviors because we will never be able to save ourselves I’m no better than anyone who seems to have committed big sins We need to praise Jesus that we don’t have to save ourselves because we would be living a pointless life then.” Log in to leave a comment — The search for Hanceville's new police chief is progressing but the city faces a significant challenge in securing insurance for its police department Mayor Jim Sawyer provided an update at Thursday's city council meeting stating that the screening committee has recommended a candidate for the position "The screening committee has presented a name a recommendation as a new police chief and that name will be forthcoming in the near future And that's all I can say on that part," said Sawyer The need for a new police chief arose after the former chief and several employees were indicted on charges of misconduct prompting the city to restart its police department The name of the recommended candidate has not yet been released and the council and mayor will soon decide if the candidate will be appointed as the new chief SEE ALSO: Alabama inmate executed for rape and murder of Chilton County woman SEE ALSO: I-65 at Lakeshore exit could undergo major changes to increase traffic flow City Attorney Dan Willingham informed the council of a new issue concerning the police department's insurance "The main insurance company says they are not renewing our policy effective July 17 of this year just because of the current issues," said Willingham He emphasized the importance of securing a new insurance carrier "It is a hurdle I don't want to pretend it's not there We got to get a good quality insurance carrier we got to know what the cost will be on it." Willingham explained that without insurance the city cannot have a functioning police department He outlined several considerations for establishing the new department "How much will it cost what size will if be how many employees do you do the dispatching Some of those things are easily provided by the sheriff and he's willing to do those. without it being insured then that's a very big hindrance," he said Willingham noted that the city cannot assemble a police department until a chief is appointed Finding a new insurer will be possible once the city determines the size and roles of its new department HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The city government and police department of Hanceville made national news recently, following the arrest of over half the small police force in mid-February has for three years faced a federal lawsuit over the conduct of its officers and the plaintiff in that case recently updated his complaint by entering the current controversy as evidence the City was targeted in a lawsuit filed by the former police department evidence custodian following the death of a Hanceville dispatcher in his office at the combined police headquarters/Hanceville City Hall complex As the Hanceville city government prepares to face the community in a public meeting this evening The Tribune attempts here to lay out the related stories as best the facts can be ascertained from the available evidence 2024 death of dispatcher leads to state investigation  Hanceville Police Department dispatcher Christopher Michael Willingham was found dead in his office at HPD headquarters on Aug. 23, 2024 According to a 2025 report by Cullman County Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick Willingham died from “combined toxic effects of fentanyl Willingham’s death led the State Bureau of Investigation to look into the HPD The death was declared accidental and no one has been charged but a 2025 grand jury would find that conditions at the HPD led to the death Former HPD assistant chief and custodian of evidence files suit following dispatcher’s death the former assistant chief and custodian of evidence for the HPD Mayor Jim Sawyer and City Clerk Tania Wilcox on Aug He was requested to join a meeting with the Mayor During the meeting Tania Wilcox began telling Plaintiff certain things which were incorrect and when he tried to correct her she yelled at him and he responded in kind Mayor Sawyer called Plaintiff back to his office and Tania was also present Mayor Sawyer told Plaintiff that he needed to resign The Mayor gave no reason and when Plaintiff requested any reason for why he needed to resign the only reason that was given was ‘tensions with Tania.’” Hadder claimed that he was eligible to retire on Sept and requested that he be allowed to use over 500 hours of accumulated vacation and sick leave that would have carried him beyond his retirement threshold to November 2024 Hadder claimed that he informed Mayor Sawyer that he could not simply walk away from his desk Allegedly the sudden dismissal without a formal transfer of the contents of the evidence room to another appointed staff person “operated to damage any chain of custody for the evidence.” Hadder’s suit claimed that he “was in effect terminated for no valid legal reason,” and sought reinstatement so he could use his accumulated leave to claim his retirement benefits 2025 grand jury hands down indictments based on state investigation Following the State Bureau of Investigation’s review a Cullman County grand jury handed down a litany of charges against five HPD officers The grand jury also issued the following findings and recommendations: The indictments and arrests were announced Wednesday at a press conference with Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker and Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry “One of the most concerning things that we discovered in this process was that Hanceville Police Department’s evidence room was not secure Criminal evidence must be secured in order to have that evidence for prosecution and to ensure due process This evidence room was anything but secure.” The City of Hanceville is committed to providing its citizens with the best possible community and all other divisions work diligently to create a city we can all be proud of the Hanceville Police Department has fallen short in its mission to serve the people I assure you that we will continue to fully cooperate with all investigations and authorities The people of Hanceville deserve full transparency regarding the extent of these issues The Council will carefully consider all recommendations and act swiftly and decisively to address the problems within the Police Department and we will pursue and implement the necessary corrective actions openly and aggressively We deeply regret the negative impact this situation has had on our community and the hard-working employees of our city The City of Hanceville employs many dedicated individuals across various departments who provide quality services to our citizens and Cullman County It is unfortunate that the actions of a few have tarnished our city’s good name Those entrusted with serving and protecting our community must be individuals of integrity and honor While the vast majority of police officers and deputies are dedicated public servants the misconduct of a few casts a shadow on the profession Such individuals must be held accountable without delay I have spoken with District Attorney Crocker and informed him of our agreement that the evidence room should be audited by the appropriate authorities as we do not want to jeopardize the ongoing investigations or hinder the prosecution of those responsible Hanceville turns law enforcement over to the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office After a productive meeting with Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office will temporarily provide all law enforcement services in the Hanceville police jurisdiction effective at 5 p.m All 911 and emergency calls will be routed directly to the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office all employees of the Hanceville Police Department will be placed on administrative leave The Hanceville City Council will meet publicly on Thursday The meeting will discuss and address the future of the Hanceville Police Department and other potential actions regarding the same The City of Hanceville thanks Sherrif (sic.) Matt Gentry and his office for aiding the citizens of Hanceville at this time due to circumstances revealed Wednesday to the public Sheriff Matt Gentry told The Tribune on Tuesday that the CCSO has met with the Cullman County Commission to discuss resources – including manpower – for long-term patrol and investigative services for Hanceville should the City determine that the current HPD shutdown needs to be extended.  Area resident updates 2022 federal lawsuit against Hanceville City and PD Joshua Phillips was arrested in Hanceville following a confrontation at a local gas station/convenience store with HPD officer Josh Howell where he said he wanted to file a complaint but ended up in a physical altercation with Howell Officer Kyle Duncan and then Deputy Chief Lowell Adam Hadder (now plaintiff in the above-mentioned lawsuit) after which he was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest Phillips filed a federal lawsuit against the three officers and the City of Hanceville for excessive use of force unlawful search and seizure and false arrest claiming that the three assaulted him and treated him in a humiliating manner in front of other officers who did nothing He also claimed to have met with City officials to no avail and to have incurred medical expenses for treatment of injuries sustained in the incident Phillips’ attorney submitted the following motion claiming the current situation of the HPD as evidence in his case: by and through the undersigned counsel and moves this Court to accept new evidentiary materials from the Cullman County District Attorney’s Office where the Hanceville Police Department has been indicted for present and old police officers for failure to account for and in doing so has failed crime victims and public at large Further stated that based on the investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation the grand jury found that the Hanceville Police Department is a particular and ongoing threat to public safety a rampant culture of corruption in the Hanceville Police Department the Hanceville Police Department has abused public trust by its failure of oversight lack of leadership and negligent training and hiring Further investigation is being carried out into the Hanceville Police Department and an official audit of the entire department present and in the past Hanceville’s mayor and city council will meet at 5 p.m today at Hanceville City Hall to “discuss and address the future of the Hanceville Police Department and other potential actions regarding the same.” The public is invited to attend Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - Five officers with the Hanceville Police Department and one of their spouses have been indicted by a Cullman County grand jury and arrested on multiple charges Cullman District Attorney Champ Crocker made the announcement Wednesday afternoon during a news conference with Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry The following law enforcement officers have been indicted on the charges below: is charged with two counts of failure to report ethics crime and tampering with evidence is accused of removing and/or mishandling evidence from the Hanceville Police Department’s evidence room Those records also claim Marlin failed to report officers Cody Kelso and Wilbanks for violating ethics laws after being notified by the SBI is charged with two counts of computer tampering two counts of using office for personal gain is accused of soliciting anabolic steroids from Eric and Donna Kelso He is also accused of removing or mishandling evidence in the Hanceville Police Department evidence room Cody Kelso is also accused of traveling to a local hospital while on duty to receive anabolic steroid shots from Donna Kelso is accused of using a department issued cell phone to get controlled substances from Eric and Donna Kelso Those records also accuse Wilbanks of traveling to a local hospital while on duty to receive anabolic steroid shots from Donna Kelso Those records also claim Wilbanks used police department computers to access information about two different people is accused of removing or mishandling evidence in the Hanceville Police Department’s evidence room He’s also accused in court documents of soliciting anabolic steroids and hydrocodone from Eric and Donna Kelso Shelnutt is accused in court documents of removing or mishandling evidence in the Hanceville Police Department evidence room is charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substance and two counts conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance Eric Kelso is accused of distributing Adderall He’s also accused of distributing hydrocodone and working with his wife Donna Kelso to distribute anabolic steroids to Jason Wilbanks is charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance Donna Kelso is accused of working with her husband to distribute anabolic steroids to Wilbanks and Cody Kelso All six individuals turned themselves into authorities and have bonded out of jail Crocker weighed on the consequences of the suspect’s actions these officers find themselves on the opposite end of the laws they were sworn to uphold Wearing a badge is a privilege and an honor and the most law enforcement officers take seriously and when law enforcement officers abuse their power they do damage to the public’s trust in law enforcement,” said Crocker “Our law enforcement officers in this county put their lives on the line every day to protect the citizens And those officers who would break the law diminish the sacrifices of the overwhelming majority of officers who protect and serve and when law enforcement officers do not meet the standard that they should Crocker said the grand jury suggested the August 2024 death of a Hanceville 911 dispatcher, Christopher Willingham was a direct result of “negligence and disregard for life” by the Hanceville Police Department “One of the most concerning things that we discovered in this process was that Hanceville Police Department’s evidence room was not secure,” said Crocker “Criminal evidence must be secured in order to have that evidence for prosecution and to ensure due process Crocker showed a photo of the evidence room pointing out a hole in the door and a broom against the wall and you can see this individual has this stick in his hand and is pushing it in the door and the grand jury watched a lot of videos showing this evidence room was routinely accessed by individuals who were not authorized to do so going in and out using the stick through the hole in the wall,” explained Crocker He showed another image of a person with their head and upper body in the hole attempting to open the door to the evidence room which Crocker said was “quite a common occurrence.” Crocker said Willingham accessed the evidence room the day of his death Crocker said Hanceville’s municipal judge has requested a state audit of the evidence room to determine how much evidence might have been compromised “Some of those cases are in the Municipal Court of Hanceville We are going to begin a review process of all those cases We will look at those on a case by case basis I am not optimistic about the ability to prosecute cases with hampered evidence,” said Crocker “I’ve already spoke with the Chairman of the County Commission We’ve already started negotiations with the leadership in Hanceville to see what it would look like but we would take over all responsibilities from patrol in that area dispatch and the jail,” said Sheriff Gentry Hanceville’s Mayor and Council released an official statement reacting to the arrests and indictments The grand jury recommended the Hanceville Police Department to be immediately disbanded calling it “more of a criminal organization than a law enforcement agency.” A full list of the recommendations made is outlined below The Hanceville community reacted to the news Wednesday with many residents saying their trust in police departments is low right now (AP) — A small Alabama city placed its entire police force on administrative leave a day after a grand jury recommended the department be disbanded saying it has “operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency.” Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer said Thursday in a statement that the Cullman County Sheriff’s Department will temporarily take over over law enforcement duties as city officials mull the next steps Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker announced Wednesday that the grand jury had indicted the Hanceville police chief and four of his officers who are accused of mishandling or removing materials from the department’s evidence room They have been charged with a variety of offenses including misuse of state criminal databases and distribution of controlled substances to each other Citing what it called a “rampant culture of corruption,” the grand jury recommended that the department be “immediately abolished.” many levels,” Crocker said Thursday by phone He said there had been unfettered access to the evidence room but declined to discuss specifics of the allegations The grand jury found that the department’s mismanagement left the evidence unusable The probe began after the State Bureau of Investigations was called in to investigate when a dispatcher who had access to the evidence room was found dead at work Crocker then took the matter before the grand jury “I hope the citizens of Hanceville and Cullman County see how seriously we are taking this The citizens of Hanceville deserve to have public safety,” Crocker said 27 to discuss the future of the police department Hanceville is a city of 3,200 people about 45 miles (70 kilometers) north of Birmingham An Alabama grand jury called for the immediate abolishment of a local police department after five officers were indicted on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker announced Wednesday that Hanceville Police Chief Jason Marlin four of his officers and one of their wives had been indicted on corruption The indictment follows the death of 49-year-old Christopher Michael Willingham last summer a dispatch supervisor at the Hanceville Police Department according to the Cullman County Coroner's Office Pathology and toxicology reports issued by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences concluded that Willingham died from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl Jurors determined that Willingham's death was the direct result of the police department's "negligence general incompetence and disregard for human life," Crocker said An investigation revealed that the department's evidence room was not secure which allowed unauthorized people to access the room "These officers find themselves on the opposite end of the laws they were sworn to uphold," Crocker said during a news conference More: Alabama sales tax holiday this weekend on weather prep items: See what's included Crocker said the five Hanceville officers were charged with: was also charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance All charges against the six defendants are felonies with the exception of tampering with physical evidence The district attorney added that he does not expect any additional charges unless there is new evidence The Hanceville Police Department has a total of nine officers, according to the latest data from the International Association of Chiefs of Police is a small city of just over 3,200 residents Hanceville Mayor Jimmy Sawyer said Marlin would prioritized transparency and communicating with the public More: Joann Distribution Center in Alabama could close in wake of company's financial struggle Crocker noted that "one of the most concerning things" authorities discovered in the investigation was that the department's evidence room was not secure "Criminal evidence must be secured in order to have that evidence for prosecution and to ensure due process," Crocker said "This evidence room was anything but secure." Crocker showed images of the evidence room during Wednesday's news conference Another image showed a broomstick that was used to access the evidence room Security camera footage showed that the evidence room was routinely accessed by unauthorized individuals who used the broomstick and hole in the wall to go in and out of the room Crocker said the jury unanimously recommended that the police department be abolished as soon as possible The jury found a "rampant culture of corruption in the Hanceville Police Department which has recently operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency," according to Crocker Other findings and recommendations from the grand jury include: Crocker and Hanceville’s municipal judge have also requested a state audit of the evidence room More: Bicycle ride will take same route as 1965 Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights have pledged their full cooperation in the investigation In a statement released following the announcement of the indictments Sawyer said Hanceville police had "fallen short in its mission to serve the people." "The people of Hanceville deserve full transparency regarding the extent of these issues The Council will carefully consider all recommendations and act swiftly and decisively to address the problems within the Police Department," Sawyer said and will pursue and implement the necessary corrective actions openly and aggressively." The city of Hanceville is located in Cullman County and is about 43 miles north of Birmingham. As of 2020, the population of Hanceville is over 3,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau have been indicted on charges including tampering with physical evidence and use of office for personal gain adding to the community's shock and disappointment The grand jury described a "culture of corruption" within the Hanceville Police Department calling it an "ongoing threat to public safety." owner of Natures Effect's Coffee Shop "Your persona that you put out is not who you were behind closed doors," Johnson added Johnson emphasized the need for transparency "The full transparency from them would be phenomenal through the whole thing there is trust that they're taking it seriously." All six accused have appeared in court and posted bond Cody Alan Kelso faces charges including computer tampering and solicitation to commit a controlled substance crime Police Chief Jason Shane Marlin was charged with failure to report ethics crime and tampering with physical evidence William Andrew Shelnutt faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker highlighted concerns about the police department's evidence room which was found to be insecure with a large hole in the wall "Criminal evidence must be secure in order to have that evidence for prosecution and for due process This evidence room was anything but secure," Crocker said "A few of the men it did really shock me.. there's three sides to every story really There's two sides and then there's the truth." "If you've got blue lights on your car you have the ability to have authority over somebody else.. The future actions regarding the police department are up to the city with any decisions to be made during a council meeting The lawyer could not confirm if those arrested were still employed by the city the Hanceville Police Department announced that the Cullman County Sheriff's office will temporarily provide all law enforcement services as of 5 p.m The Hanceville City Council will meet publicly Thursday 2025 at 5pm to address the future of the department Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer announced the City is planning to establish a new police department This comes following the indictment of multiple police officers In a statement sent to ABC 33/40's Megan Scarano Mayor Jim Sawyer said that after careful deliberation the city decided the best path forward for the police department would be to "rebuild from the ground up." Mayor Stewart continued his statement saying: "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." On Friday, the city opened applications for a new police chief Job description details for the position include "develop and oversee department policies and procedures to maintain compliance with local and respond to citizen complaints regarding department personnel." Stewart says the city's goal is to establish a new police department that is built on integrity and service and they are working to find a police chief who will lead the efforts As the department rebuilds, Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry and his deputies are working overtime at no cost to provide coverage to the city of Hanceville "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." (WBMA) — The City of Hanceville announced it will be accepting applications for a new police chief This comes following the indictment of multiple police officers with the department March 10 to keep the city's police department during a special called meeting As the department rebuilds, Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said his deputies will work overtime to provide coverage to the area at no cost to Hanceville According to a "Job Vacancy Notice" from the city minimum qualifications for the position are a current Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training (APOST) certification and at least five years of command experience in a mid- to upper-level police department with 50 or more officers and respond to citizen complaints regarding department personnel." The city said applications will be accepted through March 21 (WBMA) — A federal lawsuit alleging corruption within the Hanceville Police Department has surfaced following the arrests and indictments of five officers The Cullman County Sheriff's Office has temporarily taken over law enforcement duties in the city a former employee of the City of Hanceville filed a lawsuit in August of 2024 against the city alleging he was forced to resign and that evidence protocol was ignored ABC 33/40 reached out to Hadder's attorneys about the suit who are not commenting about it at this time ABC 33/40 obtained a copy of a federal lawsuit filed in 2022 by Attorney Roderick Van Daniel on behalf of Hanceville resident Joshua Phillips Phillips claims he was assaulted and falsely arrested by the officers on September 8 after attempting to file a complaint against Officer Howell The officers named in the 2022 complaint are not the same officers who were recently indicted "It's been like living in pure evil pure evil when you tell someone of authority you need help and they don't give you help." Howell and Phillips had an altercation at a gas station and Phillips approached Duncan to write him a report Phillips went to the police department to report feeling threatened Officers Duncan and Howell allegedly showed up and told Phillips he did not have a valid complaint and threatened him with arrest if he did not leave The situation escalated when Howell and Duncan allegedly placed Phillips in a chokehold Phillips claims he was arrested for resisting arrest despite asserting he had done nothing wrong There's no safety when you need it," said Phillips just people jumping on me when I'm disabled." The lawsuit further accuses Hadder of physically and verbally assaulting Phillips after he spent 14 hours in jail dragging him from the booking room to the hallway to the jail cell reportedly posted on YouTube by an unknown source was not released by the city or department He emphasized the importance of the video evidence "he continued to abuse the law when he lost the video footage that shows what he did that day they made my client Joshua feel like he was a criminal they gave him charges for wanting to make a complaint against another police officer," adding it's Joshua Phillips' words against Officer Hadder's words." Phillips and his attorney continue to pursue justice in court "It's imperative for all the citizens of Hanceville and for the state of Alabama and all across the United States to know they have constitutional rights and police officers are not above the law." ABC 33/40 stopped into Hanceville City Hall to speak with Mayor Jimmy Sawyer about Howell's termination suit and the federal lawsuit Sawyer referred us to attorney Terry Sides Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHANCEVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Five Hanceville Police Department officers and one of their spouses were arrested in connection to the death of a dispatcher who was found dead in his office was found dead in his office at the Hanceville Police Department on Aug Officials say he was last seen the day prior His body was sent for an autopsy at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences Huntsville Lab The autopsy determined that Willingham died from “combined toxic effects of fentanyl The Cullman County District Attorney and the Cullman County Sheriff announced the arrest of five Hanceville Police officers and one of the officer’s spouses during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon The district attorney presented the charges to a Cullman County Grand Jury on the following individuals: he is accused of viewing records from a Cullman County murder investigation and accessing the records to obtain motor vehicle tag information to provide to Eric Kelso He was released from the Cullman County Jail on a $15,000 bond the reason behind the charge will be listed under each one He was released from the Cullman County Jail on a $66,000 bond Jason Shane Marlin - Hanceville Police Chief he is accused of failing to report Wilbanks and Cody Kelso for violating ethics laws after being notified of the same by the State Bureau of Investigation Marlin was released from the Cullman County Jail on a $30,000 bond he is accused of removing or mishandling evidence from the Hanceville Police Department’s evidence room he is accused of distributing Adderall to man Hydrocodone and Anabolic Steroids to Wilbanks The conspiracy charges stem from the conspiracy to distribute Anabolic Steroids to Wilbanks Cody Kelso Kelso was released from the Cullman County Jail on a $30,000 bond she is accused of giving Anabolic Steroids to Wilbanks and Cody Kelso The conspiracy charges come from agreeing with Eric Kelso to give the steroids to Wilbanks and Cody Kelso She was released from the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office on a $50,000 bond The Grand Jury issued the following findings and recommendations to Judicial Circuit Judge Gregory Nicholas after looking over the evidence presented and touring the Hanceville Jail: District Attorney Champ Crocker showed images of the evidence room The evidence room showed a hole in a wall and a broom that was used to access evidence behind the unsecured wall and Alabama State Attorney General Steve Marshall recommended that the evidence room be audited The City of Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer released a statement following the press conference: Click Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel Katie Whitley served as Hanceville Mayor from 2004-2008 She was very outspoken during the first city council meeting after the indictments were announced against five Hanceville Police Officers When asked if there was a system of corruption in Hanceville ABC 33/40 asked if she thinks the council and the mayor knew about the corruption I am ashamed we didn't have more leadership down here I blame the council and the mayor for letting it happen She said the alleged corrupt officers should never have been hired She said the entire council should have been a part of the interviews when the officers were hired on Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said in a press conference last week a couple of the officers indicted in the investigation were terminated from his department "If they had checked their background they would not have hired them," said Whitley In her opinion she believes the Cullman County Sheriff's Office needs to continue its work as the acting law enforcement agency until city elections She said the next administration should pick the new police chief Whitley wouldn't comment on if she thinks the council members should resign "I'm gonna leave it up to their conscience." She said another mistake made Thursday night was the location of the meeting She said the council room needs a PA system because people couldn't hear when the council made motions The council set a special called meeting on March 10th at the Hanceville Civic Center (WBMA) — Two Hanceville police officers indicted last month have entered pleas of not guilty and have waived their arraignments A wife of one of the officers also entered a not guilty plea facing charges including computer tampering criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime has a jury trial scheduled for September 15 before Cullman County Judge Emily Johnston Kelso has been given 10 days to file motions charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime is set for trial on the same date and time as Eric Michael Kelso She has been given the same timeframe to file motions a school has had to forfeit games for violating AHSAA rules On Friday, they issued a fine and put the Hancevillle High School softball team on probation The AHSAA said the team violated its Transfer Rule and Rule V regarding coaches' requirements The Transfer Rule states that a student-athlete who starts school in another district must attend their new school one calendar year before they are eligible to play Rule V states that a student-athlete must be eligible for eight consecutive semesters after they start ninth grade the Thompson Warriors (23-2) continued their win streak in a 1-0 victory over Hartselle on Thursday night according to the Alabama Sports Writers Association will have a week off because of spring break and will resume play April 1 when they face Tuscaloosa County The No. 1 team in 4A, the Orange Beach Makos (9-1), have won nine straight after dropping their first game of the season, and like Thompson are nationally ranked They look to keep rolling against Ocean Springs in the Orange Beach Classic this weekend STACEY MICKLESStacey Mickles is a graduate of the University of Alabama and has covered sports for various news organizations such as Sportskeda Saturday Down South and Pro Football Network She began contributing to High School On SI in 2025 © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER a former employee of the city of Hanceville alleging he was forced to resign under contentious circumstances Hadder claims he was compelled to resign a day after an April 8 Hadder alleges a dispute led to him being yelled at by the city clerk When he asked the mayor for a reason why he needed to resign Hadder claims he was not given one other than 'tensions' with the city clerk citing concerns that a forced resignation would result in the loss of his accumulated vacation time and unpaid sick leave the mayor again requested Hadder's resignation who served as the custodian of evidence for the Hanceville Police Department said he requested that an inventory be taken of the evidence room before his departure The process was estimated to take around two weeks asking him to leave the premises the same day Hadder said he tried to explain to the mayor that a new custodian should be established before his departure or else it would disrupt the chain of evidence Hadder claims Sawyer ordered him to leave anyway Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker has released the findings of an audit of the Hanceville Police Department’s evidence room One of the major reasons a grand jury recommended the police department dissolve was the evidence room was not secure Several different types of drugs were missing including more than seven ounces of meth and multiple types of prescription drugs The audit also said it appears at least one gun was missing and around 30 guns in the room were undocumented Crocker said state health data shows Hanceville has the highest per-capita overdose EMS calls in the state During a city council meeting on Monday, March 10, councilors voted to suspend police department operations while they work to hire a new police chief to rebuild the department from the ground up Councilors called this meeting after a previous city council meeting where they tabled a decision on the future of the Hanceville PD Mayor Jim Sawyer announced a "reduction in force" for Hanceville Police Department employees In a letter obtained by ABC 33/40's Megan Scarano Sawyer said the reduction will affect police department employees that have been on paid administrative leave since February 20 citing recommendations from a Grand Jury to abolish the department and employee resignations This decision comes after the Hanceville City Council voted on March 10 to retain the police department during a special meeting Scarano spoke with a city employee who said ,“We were all terminated today.” The letter noted "pending criminal charges" and a "significantly decreased" service capability due to the employee resignations as reasons for the decision Employees affected by this decision will receive their last paycheck on March 21 and will be compensated for any vacation or sick leave according to their eligibility and the city's employee handbook Medical insurance for those affected will remain in effect until April 1 The letter also mentioned that if the police department is reestablished and former employees may apply according to the requirements Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry offered to continue providing coverage at no cost to Hanceville while the city rebuilds their department This was also in efforts to allow employees with the police department to continue to be paid while on administrative leave The city is not under contract with the sheriff's office "Financially the city's in the position where either they pay us or pay them I wanted to take the position If you want to hire a chief and start the interview process we'll put any reimbursement off down the road to make sure that those employees who are on administrative leave can be paid can feed their families and be taken care of It gives them the time to start to hire a chief and start the rehiring of those employees," said Gentry Gentry said there will be no change to the plan District Attorney Champ Crocker said he was not involved in the decision HANCEVILLE, Ala. (WBMA) — A preliminary audit of the Hanceville Police Department's evidence room revealed discrepancies according to a report made public by District Attorney Champ Crocker conducted by State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Agent Jamie King revealed that approximately 216 grams of methamphetamine/amphetamine and a .25 caliber handgun are unaccounted for King noted that the list is an approximation based on the "item description" on each evidence envelope Crocker added that not all item descriptions included a weight for the substances and there are additional items missing with unknown weights There were also 30 undocumented firearms were discovered in the evidence room Crocker described the audit results as "shocking but not surprising," citing security footage that revealed the evidence room's lack of security He also expressed concern over data from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) indicating that Hanceville has the highest per capita drug overdose EMS calls in the state In the report to Hanceville Mayor Jimmy Sawyer Crocker also addressed the death of Hanceville police dispatcher Chris Willingham Crocker said he recommended that Police Chief Jason Marlin call the SBI for assistance Crocker subsequently contacted the SBI on August 30 and Willingham's case was assigned to King Crocker expressed appreciation to Sawyer for his cooperation in the Willingham investigation and for providing security footage to the Cullman County Sheriff's Office He concluded his letter by expressing satisfaction with the Sheriff's Office's efforts to protect Hanceville citizens and suggested that if the Hanceville Police Department is reinstated the Sheriff's Office or the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency handle all felony matters – The 2025 Hanceville Grilled Cheese Festival is preparing for another year of grilled cheese thrills and competition and is now accepting vendor applications for the fifth annual event A full preview of the festival will follow at a later date Vendors interested in participating must submit an application and payment before the May 19 deadline Returning vendors are encouraged to submit early to help ensure their previous space assignments are honored spaces will be assigned at the discretion of the vendor director “We always have a variety of vendors offering pretty much anything you would like to see at a street festival,” said organizer Nolan Bradford “Vendors can expect the largest crowds of the year for this particular event.” The vendor fee is $30 for a 10×10 single space or $60 for a 10×20 double space first-served basis and vendors must provide their own tents Setup will take place on May 24 between 5:30-7:30 a.m Limited power hookups are available upon request but vendors are responsible for arranging their power or bringing a generator if needed Full rules and regulations are available on the vendor application form those interested in becoming festival sponsors may submit a registration form by the May 19 deadline To obtain or submit a vendor application, or more information or any questions related to the festival, contact Nolan Bradford at 205-249-5588 or email friendsofthefestivalal@gmail.com President Donald Trump delivers the commencement address at the University of Alabama on Thursday evening. WATCH City clerk alleges Hanceville reached out for help months before dispatcher death by Megan Scarano the council has done everything that they can to request that the correct and right authorities come in and do "Help was requested five months before the dispatch supervisor died We were promised and told that help was coming Wilcox also said that after the death within the police department where in our own police department and police force at that time did everything they possibly could to keep us from getting any information," she said Inquiries to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) regarding whether Hanceville had contacted them for assistance were met with a press release dated February 19 ALEA suggested contacting the Cullman County District Attorney's Office as their case file was turned over in January the D.A.'s office declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation "There are many more things if the proper authorities don't bring them to light There's a whole lot I would like to say I will have a book and it will have every detail in it," expressed Wilcox Wilcox also said she has been threatened by a former Police Chief about what was going on within the department The Hanceville City Council has scheduled a meeting for Monday to discuss the future of the police department The City of Hanceville provided the names of those on the hiring committee that will be responsible for selecting the city's next police chief Culpepper is the former chief of the Cullman Police Department Graham is the Captain at the Moulton Police Department Stam said the committee has met and reviewed resumes They plan to meet with four candidates the week of April 1st Two candidates could see a second interview before a recommendation is made to the council The city announced it would begin accepting applications for a new chief following the indictment of several officers within the department The city said applications would be accepted through March 21