Grand Jury Calls for Abolition of Hanceville Police Department Amid Corruption Scandal
“Based upon the investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, we find that the Hanceville Police Department is a particular and ongoing threat to public safety.” - D.A. Champ Crocker
Hanceville, AL – In a shocking turn of events, five Hanceville police officers and one civilian have been indicted and arrested following an extensive investigation into alleged corruption within the department. The arrests come after the August 2024 death of dispatcher Chris Willingham, whose autopsy revealed a lethal combination of fentanyl, gabapentin, diazepam, amphetamine, carisoprodol, and methocarbamol in his system.
The individuals taken into custody include officers Cody Alan Kelso, Jason Scott Wilbanks, Jason Shane Marlin, William Andrew Shelnutt, and Eric Michael Kelso, along with Donna Reid Kelso, a civilian. The charges range from computer tampering and solicitation to commit a controlled substance crime to unlawful distribution of controlled substances and tampering with physical evidence.
A Cullman County grand jury reviewed the evidence and issued a scathing report, calling for the immediate abolition of the Hanceville Police Department. The report described the department as having a “rampant culture of corruption” and operating “as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency.” Citing failures in oversight, leadership, and proper evidence handling, the grand jury concluded that the department posed an ongoing threat to public safety.
District Attorney Champ Crocker underscored the gravity of the findings, stating, “Based upon the investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, we find that the Hanceville Police Department is a particular and ongoing threat to public safety.”
In response, Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer pledged the city’s full cooperation with state investigators, assuring residents that corrective actions would be taken. “We will act swiftly and decisively to address the problems within the Police Department,” he said.
This scandal follows the November 2023 indictment of former Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail on 15 counts of using his office for personal gain, adding to concerns about widespread misconduct within the city's leadership.
The arrests and the grand jury’s recommendations mark a pivotal moment for Hanceville, as the community seeks to restore trust in its public institutions and ensure the safety and well-being of its residents.
