Barrackville Police Put 2 Officers on Leave as Evidence Room Allegations Trigger Review
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 13
Barrackville Police Put 2 Officers on Leave as Evidence Room Allegations Trigger Review
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 13
Summary
Two Barrackville officers were placed on temporary leave, not fired, as town officials opened an internal review of the police department over an alleged evidence-room break-in.
John Funkhouser, the town's general counsel, said the review followed missing records, concerns that unauthorized people could remotely access surveillance cameras, and a safe found empty after council members used combinations left on a desk.
Then-Chief Zachary Freeburn resigned on July 2 after telling a council member the evidence locker had been cleaned out under a prosecutor's office order, leaving only old confiscated firearms and $30 in abandoned cash.
Officer David Hunt disputed the town's account, told WBOY he found the evidence room had been entered by someone else on July 7, and sought whistleblower status while asking West Virginia State Police to investigate.
Marion County Sheriff Roger Cunningham said his agency will handle calls in Barrackville while the review continues and the town says it is focused on accountability and resident safety.