Officials in Barrackville, West Virginia, have refuted claims made by the town's police department that the entire force was fired. The department's assertion of a mass dismissal came after allegations of a break-in at its evidence room, leading to an internal review.
On July 7, the Barrackville Police Department posted on Facebook that "effective immediately, the entire Barrackville Police Department has been relieved of duty by the Mayor and City Council." The post expressed gratitude to the community for its support.
However, Barrackville's general counsel, John Funkhouser, told Fox News Digital that the police department's statement was "entirely inaccurate." Funkhouser explained that two officers were placed on temporary leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation into a reported incident at the evidence room.
The situation escalated following the resignation of then-Barrackville Police Chief Zachary Freeburn. According to Funkhouser, Freeburn informed a council member on July 1 that the evidence locker had been cleared out under an order from the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, which included firearms and abandoned cash. Freeburn resigned the following day.
Subsequently, Officer David Hunt contacted Barrackville Mayor Thomas Straight regarding an "action plan" for the department. Due to what Straight described as a lack of "proper records and other documentation," both Hunt and another officer, Ethan Darden, were placed on temporary inactive status. This measure was intended to allow the town council time to "review all pertinent information regarding the operation of the Barrackville Police Department."
Mayor Straight also raised concerns on July 6 about unauthorized remote access to surveillance cameras at the police department, including those in the evidence room. Upon entering the evidence room, council members reportedly found a list of safe combinations on a desk. They used one combination to open a safe, but it contained nothing.
Additionally, council members found a police cruiser unlocked and another containing an "unsecured rifle." The two officers were placed on leave the next day.
Officer Hunt, however, presented a different account to WBOY, stating that he discovered the evidence room had been accessed by another party upon arriving at work on July 7. Hunt alleged that town officials had entered the evidence room and, after making this accusation, he and another officer, constituting the town's entire police force, were fired.
Funkhouser reiterated that the assertion of the entire police staff being fired was inaccurate. He stated that the Mayor and Council took "necessary acts of oversight to ensure the accountability of the Barrackville Police Department and confirm that the Department was complying with all rules and regulations." The Town of Barrackville is committed to transparency, accountability, and the safety of its residents, Funkhouser added.
Following the town officials' meeting with the West Virginia State Police, the Barrackville Police Department's clerk resigned. In the interim, the Marion County Sheriff's Office will manage calls within Barrackville. A Barrackville Town Council meeting scheduled for July 7 was canceled due to "a lack of sufficient information regarding items listed under unfinished business."