McCOLL, S.C. (WMBF/Gray News) – An entire police force resigned leaving a South Carolina town in a public safety crisis.
McColl Police Chief Bob Hale and the town’s four officers all resigned. Friday was their last day.
Hale said his resignation comes after alleged repeated harassment and personal attacks and “the overall creation of a toxic work environment” by a town councilman.
“For months, I have endured unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership,” Hale wrote a Facebook post. “These actions have not only affected me personally but have also created a toxic atmosphere that has hindered the department’s ability to function effectively. Despite our efforts to address these issues professionally and through appropriate channels, the harassment and hostility have persisted.”
Hale also alleges money was cut from the police department’s budget and that other critical police needs were unmet.
“The safety of the residents and the well-being of the officers should have been prioritized by committing the necessary resources to build a department capable of addressing the complexities of 21st-century policing,” he said.
A former investigator also made this claim about the department.
Former McColl Investigator Courtney Bulusan said her job faced unnecessary challenges due to the lack of tools and equipment for her to utilize.
“I was on my way to a call when that one just stopped working. We need cars,” Bulusan said.
Bulusan said she wanted residents to know her resignation had nothing to do with the community. She hopes the town takes the right steps to keep the community safe.
McColl resident William Groom worries that residents could be at risk now that there is no police force.
“Say if someone were stabbed or shot or whatever. Without police enforcement, they would have to come from the sheriff’s office in Bennettsville,” Groom said. “We’re talking 10 or 15 minutes and someone could possibly expire in that amount of time. Without police enforcement, it’s definitely a bad situation.”
The town’s mayor said the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office will cover the town while they look for new police officers.
The mayor added that residents should be on their best behavior and show the county that they can handle themselves over the holidays.
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