Entire police department relieved of duty in West Virginia town
West Virginia Community Sees Complete Police Force Removal
Entire police department relieved of duty - The quiet community of Barrackville, located in West Virginia, has experienced a dramatic shift in local law enforcement. In a surprising development announced on Tuesday, the entire police force was removed from their positions. This unprecedented action was communicated through an official Facebook post released by the Barrackville Police Department, which confirmed that every single member of the department had been relieved of duty starting immediately.
The decision was made jointly by the Barrackville Town Council alongside the town's mayor. At the moment of the announcement, the police department was quite small, consisting of only two officers. This limited size meant that the removal of all personnel effectively left the town without its own dedicated law enforcement presence.
Evidence Room Break-In Sparks Crisis
Former Barrackville Police Sergeant Hunt provided details about the sequence of events that led to this situation. According to Hunt, he arrived at the police department on Tuesday morning and discovered that someone had forced entry into the evidence room. This discovery prompted him to convene an emergency meeting with Mayor Tom Straight and the members of the Barrackville Town Council.
During this meeting, Hunt noted that the council had previously expressed interest in conducting an inventory of the department's evidence without any officers present. This detail became particularly relevant as the situation unfolded. Councilmember Alex Neville later admitted to Hunt that he had taken a set of police keys, which may explain how access to the evidence room was gained.
When Hunt raised concerns that members of the town government were responsible for the break-in, both he and his fellow officer were promptly placed on inactive status. Hunt emphasized that this happened quickly, essentially removing them from active duty while the matter was being addressed.
Additional Departures and Whistleblower Claim
The turmoil within the department extended beyond the two officers. Hunt revealed that the police clerk had also resigned from her position, further depleting the department's staff. In response to these developments, Hunt informed both the mayor and the town council that he intended to claim whistleblower status, signaling his willingness to potentially expose wrongdoing.
This series of events occurred less than one week after Barrackville Police Chief Zachary Freeburn stepped down from his leadership role. According to Hunt, Freeburn's resignation was connected to ongoing disagreements with the town council regarding what he perceived as overreach in their authority.
Meeting Cancellation and Ongoing Response
The Barrackville Town Council had planned to hold a regular meeting on Tuesday evening. However, a Facebook post published on Monday night announced that the gathering would be canceled. The stated reason was "a lack of sufficient information regarding items listed under 'unfinished business.'" This cancellation notice was also displayed prominently on the front door of the town hall building.
Journalists from Nexstar's WBOY attempted to contact various government officials through both telephone calls and in-person visits to town hall, but were unable to reach anyone for comment.
Meanwhile, Marion County Sheriff Roger Cunningham assured WBOY that the Marion County Sheriff's Department would maintain its practice of responding to calls in Barrackville. The sheriff's department has historically provided coverage for the town and will continue to do so as it would for any other location within Marion County that requires assistance.
Former Police Chief Zachary Freeburn also reached out to WBOY, sharing a letter he had prepared for the Tuesday night council meeting. This letter, which can be viewed below, provides additional insight into the tensions that led to these recent developments.
Freeburn's letter outlines his perspective on the council's actions and the reasons behind his resignation, offering context to the community about the ongoing situation.
The complete removal of Barrackville's police department represents a significant moment for this small West Virginia town. With only two officers and a police clerk having departed, residents now face the prospect of relying on external law enforcement resources. The situation remains fluid as the town council works to address the various issues that have come to light, including the evidence room break-in and the broader governance concerns that have prompted multiple resignations and dismissals in such a short period.