WV town's police department thrown into chaos by evidence room fiasco, but officials say no one was fired

Officials in one West Virginia town are pushing back on claims from its own police department that every single person in the agency was fired, saying the entire department is now under an internal review after allegations of a break-in in its evidence room.In a July 7 Facebook post, the Barrackville Police Department wrote that the entire department was fired by city officials."Effective immediately, the entire Barrackville Police Department has been relieved of duty by the Mayor and City Council," the department wrote. "We are sincerely grateful for the support, trust, and encouragement shown to us by the Barrackville community throughout our service.
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Officials in one West Virginia town are pushing back on claims from its own police department that every single person in the agency was fired, saying the entire department is now under an internal review after allegations of a break-in in its evidence room.In a July 7 Facebook post, the Barrackville Police Department wrote that the entire department was fired by city officials."Effective immediately, the entire Barrackville Police Department has been relieved of duty by the Mayor and City Council," the department wrote. "We are sincerely grateful for the support, trust, and encouragement shown to us by the Barrackville community throughout our service. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve and protect this town."WEST VIRGINIA TOWN FIRES ENTIRE POLICE FORCE AFTER CHIEF RESIGNS, SERGEANT ALLEGES EVIDENCE ROOM BREAK-INThe announcement came after then-Barrackville Police Chief Zachary Freeburn resigned "effective immediately."However, in a statement to Fox News Digital, Barrackville's general counsel, John Funkhouser, said the police department's claim of a mass firing is "entirely inaccurate." He said two officers were placed on temporary leave pending an internal investigation into an alleged break-in at the department's evidence room.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XFunkhouser said then-Chief Freeburn told council member Alex Neville on July 1 that the department's evidence locker was cleaned out under an order from the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, leaving firearms confiscated years ago along with $30 in abandoned cash. The following day, Freeburn resigned.VIRGINIA OFFICER PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE AFTER MALICIOUS WOUNDING CHARGE TIED TO OFF DUTY INCIDENTOfficer David Hunt then reached out to Barrackville Mayor Thomas Straight regarding an "action plan" for the department.
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- What's the story?
- Officials in one West Virginia town are pushing back on claims from its own police department that every single person in the agency was fired, saying the entire department is now under an internal review after allegations of a break-in in its evidence room.In a July 7 Facebook post, the Barrackville Police Department wrote that the entire department was fired by city officials."Effective immediately, the entire Barrackville Police Department has been relieved of duty by the Mayor and City Council," the department wrote. "We are sincerely grateful for the support, trust, and encouragement shown to us by the Barrackville community throughout our service.
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- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
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- 5m ago.
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WV town's police department thrown into chaos by evidence room fiasco, but officials say no one was fired
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