Entire Colorado police department resigns

Drew Chegash
Staff Writer

      In the wake of the mistrust in the police the public has developed, it is not uncommon for police officials to step down from their jobs, but over the weekend, a Colorado police department took it a bit further, when their entire department suddenly resigned.
      Green Mountain Falls, Colorado is a very small town with a population of only around seven hundred full time residents. Although the department itself was very small with only four employees, a marshal, and three deputies, they still made a statement. It is still a mystery as to why these employees left as they have not yet spoken out publicly as to what exactly caused them to leave. KOAA-TV, the local news station, reported that “The town’s talking, but the few who know why the marshal suddenly left, so far, are not speaking up.” 

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      The entire police station was completely shut down on April 24, and nobody answered any phone calls that were tied to the department. Even the former marshal of the department did not respond for a requests for comments.  The newly elected mayor, Jane Newberry, is among the others who are scratching their heads looking for answers. "In an election year, there's always some people who choose to stay and some people who choose to go, and I think that happens at every level of government," Newberry told KOAA-TV.  Newberry does not seem worried over the lack of a police force as she stated, "I've stressed many times that the town is perfectly safe.  One of the advantages of a small town -- we have less than 700 full-time residents -- is neighbors look out for each other."
      Some strongly believe that the resignations came as a result over a dispute with Mayor Newberry but has not been confirmed. If the dispute with the Mayor is true, this would not be the first time an entire police department has resigned due to objections. In Dec. 2015, an entire department in South Carolina resigned, leaving their community without law enforcement.  Also in Chelsea, Oklahoma in July 2015, the entire police department resigned over conflicts with town administration.
      The El Paso County Sheriff’s office has already handled dispatch and provided backup for the town until a new force can be hired. The Teller County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado State Patrol will also provide additional assistance. "We have already received applications for the job of marshal even though the position has not been posted," Mayor Newberry said. "There are people who want to do it." It is safe to say that Green Mountain Falls is in good shape in terms of safety, but it is still obviously strange that an entire department would resign so abruptly and remain silent when further questioned.