Five Hanceville police officers and the spouse of an officer have been arrested in connection to a dispatcher’s death.
Five Hanceville Police Department officers and one of their spouses were arrested in connection to the death of a dispatcher who was found dead at police headquarters.
FORMAL STATEMENT
THE CITY OF HANCEVILLE
February 20, 2025
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. today.
All 911 and emergency calls will be routed directly to the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.
Effective at 5 p.m. today, all employees of the Hanceville Police Department will be placed on administrative leave.
The Hanceville City Council will meet publicly on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 5 p.m. at the Hanceville City Hall. 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 Matt Gentry and his office for aiding the citizens of Hanceville at this time due to circumstances revealed Wednesday to the public.
Sincerely,
Jim Sawyer
Mayor
City of Hanceville
FORMAL STATEMENT
THE CITY OF HANCEVILLE
February 19, 2025
The City of Hanceville is committed to providing its citizens with the best possible community.
Our City Council, Public Works Department, Fire Department, Parks and Recreation Department, City Hall, and all other divisions work diligently to create a city we can all be proud of.
Unfortunately, the Hanceville Police Department has fallen short in its mission to serve the people.
As mayor, alongside the City Council, 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. Our citizens, industries, and businesses deserve a resolution, 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. We will uncover the truth, and justice will be served.
Thave spoken with District Attorney Crocker and informed him of our agreement that the evidence room should be audited by the appropriate authorities. At this time, I am unable to comment further, as we do not want to jeopardize the ongoing investigations or hinder the prosecution of those responsible.
Sincerely,
Jim Sawyer
Mayor
City of Hanceville