Video: Town Without Police Department Speaks Out

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STURGIS, Miss. (WCB)-Sturgis residents packed the town’s special board meeting demanding answers. Officials held the special meeting to discuss their next steps for the town’s police department. Strugis’s Board of Aldermen recently voted to remove Police Chief Will Hutchinson from his position during executive session. Soon after the announcement was made, the town’s three officers quickly re-signed, turning in their badges, key and equipment.

“We discussed our police positions, what we’re going to do in the future, like what we had before with the police chief and three officers,  go to full-time officers, that kind of thing. And the board decided to think about it a little more so we didn’t come to a decision,” said Sturgis Mayor Walter Turner.

Officials reassured the public that the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department is assisting the town, but residents sill weren’t satisfied. The aldermen never gave an explanation why the did not want to re-appoint Chief Hutchinson.

“In a situation like this, every time there’s a new election, all employees are up for re-appointments. You don’t have to show any cause or anything else and we went through our entire roster of employees and the chief was the only one not re-appointed and there were no reasons given,” said Mayor Turner.

As the city continues to figure out their next step, Mayor Turner hopes the lines of communication between the board and the people of Sturgis remain open.

“Alot of the newly elected officials, they need to go out and talk to the public and see what the public wants and bring that consensus of opinion back to a board meeting so we can make the right decision,” said Mayor Turner.

Officials say they will likely hold another meeting some time early next week.