A grand jury in Cullman County, Alabama, recommended the immediate abolishment of the Hanceville Police Department, a small agency serving a city of about 3,200 residents, located roughly 43 miles north of Birmingham. This recommendation came after an investigation uncovered what the grand jury described as a "rampant culture of corruption," leading to the indictment of five officers, including the police chief, on various felony and misdemeanor charges.
The investigation was sparked by the death of Christopher Michael Willingham, a 49-year-old dispatch supervisor at the Hanceville Police Department, who was found dead in his office on August 23, 2024. Toxicology reports from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences determined that Willingham died from the combined toxic effects of multiple substances, including fentanyl, gabapentin, diazepam, amphetamine, carisoprodol, and methocarbamol.
While the officers were not directly charged in connection with his death, the grand jury concluded that it was a "direct result" of the department's "negligence, lack of procedure, general incompetence and disregard for human life." A key factor was the unsecured evidence room, which allowed "unfettered access" to numerous individuals, including Willingham, potentially contributing to the circumstances of his overdose.
The indicted officers include Police Chief Jason Shane Marlin, charged with failure to report an ethics crime and tampering with physical evidence, and four others—Cody Alan Kelso, Jason Scott Wilbanks, William Andrew Shelnutt, and reserve officer Eric Michael Kelso—facing charges such as tampering with evidence, computer tampering, conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime, and using their positions for personal gain. Eric Kelso’s wife, Donna Reid Kelso, was also indicted for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and conspiracy, though these charges were unrelated to the evidence room.
The grand jury’s findings painted a damning picture of the department, accusing it of operating "more as a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency." They highlighted the department’s failure to properly secure, preserve, or maintain evidence, rendering it unusable and failing crime victims and the public. A visit to the Hanceville Jail on February 12, 2025, further eroded confidence, with the jury stating they had "zero confidence" in the department’s ability to maintain the facility or meet basic health and safety standards for inmates and staff. They recommended that another agency, either local or state, take over law enforcement duties in Hanceville and that the indicted officers be suspended from any law enforcement roles.
Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker announced the indictments on February 19, 2025, calling it "a sad day for law enforcement" but also "a good day for the rule of law." He emphasized the severity of the evidence room’s security issues, noting that officers accessed it through unconventional means, such as a gap in the wall or using a broomstick to manipulate a door. Hanceville Mayor Jimmy Sawyer responded by promising that the city council would "carefully consider" the recommendations and act "swiftly and decisively," though he did not commit to disbanding the department outright. The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Matt Gentry, has begun preparations to potentially assume policing duties if needed, though no formal request had been made as of the announcement.
The Hanceville Police Department, with only nine officers as of the latest data, has been under scrutiny since Marlin took over as chief in August 2024, following a 20-year tenure with the Birmingham Police Department. His appointment came after the resignation of the previous chief, Josh Howell, and was initially framed as a move toward greater transparency. However, the grand jury’s findings suggest deep-seated issues predating and persisting through his leadership. The city now faces a critical decision about whether to follow through on the recommendation to dissolve the department, a rare and drastic step reflecting the extent of the alleged misconduct. 17GEN4.com
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