(Scypre.com) – A small South Carolina town is grappling with a public safety crisis after its entire police department, including the chief of police, resigned en masse. The resignations have left McColl without local law enforcement, prompting concerns about community safety and sparking allegations of a hostile work environment within the town’s leadership.
Mayor George Garner confirmed the resignations on Friday, describing the situation as “difficult” but assured residents that efforts are underway to rebuild the department. “We’re actively working to hire a new police chief and more officers,” Garner told WMBF News.
Police Chief Bob Hale was the first to step down, followed by all four of the town’s officers. Hale took to Facebook to explain his resignation, citing “repeated acts of harassment, personal attacks, and the creation of a hostile work environment” by an unnamed member of the McColl City Council.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm my resignation as Chief of Police of the McColl Police Department along with all four of my fellow officers,” Hale wrote. “For months, I have endured unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership. 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.”
Hale further alleged that budget cuts and the lack of investment in critical resources were orchestrated by the council member in question. He claimed these actions undermined the department’s ability to provide the level of policing the community needs.
“A significant amount of money was cut from our already depleted budget,” Hale wrote. “Despite repeated appeals for funding to modernize equipment, enhance training, and increase staffing levels, those critical needs went unmet. The safety of the residents and the well-being of the officers should have been prioritized.”
The abrupt resignation of the department has left McColl’s residents uneasy. William Groom, a local resident, voiced his concerns about the potential delay in emergency response times. “Say if someone were stabbed or shot — without police enforcement, they would have to come from the sheriff’s office in Bennettsville,” Groom said. “We’re talking ten or fifteen minutes, and someone could possibly expire in that amount of time. Without police enforcement, it’s definitely a bad situation.”
Mayor Garner emphasized that the resignations were not acrimonious. “I hate to see them go. They were a great group. But we’re going to continue on,” he said.
In the interim, Garner has enlisted the assistance of the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office and nearby law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has also been called upon to provide additional support.
Applications for the position of Chief of Police are now being accepted, with forms available at McColl Town Hall. Garner remains hopeful that the town will rebuild its police department quickly.
The situation in McColl is not isolated. In October, the entire police department in Geary, Oklahoma, resigned, citing similar frustrations over unmet needs and a lack of support from political leaders.
As McColl residents adjust to life without a local police force, Hale hopes his resignation will serve as a call to action. “I believe that stepping away is the only way to shed light on the severity of these issues and call for accountability and change,” Hale wrote in his statement.