Entire Indiana police department quits in protest

(Fotolia)

A small Indiana town has found itself with no police force after every single member resigned in protest on Monday.

Bunker Hill is home to approximately 900 residents and they are worried.

“We have had issues with the town board and there are some activities there where I felt like they were serving their own agenda,” former Bunker Hill town marshal Michael Thomison stated.

Several of the town council members had requested background checks on other council members as well as unrestricted access to police reports.

“They would not communicate with us or the officers, and they kept scaling back,” said Thomison.

According to a statement, the town council said they were surprised by the resignations.

— Police drag woman off flight for demanding overhead bin space —

(Bunker Hill Police)

Unethical requests

“The resignation of the entire police force has come as a shock to the council,” the statement said. “It has never been the goal to dismantle or otherwise endanger the town police department or officers.”

These unethical requests are not the only thing the police officers are upset about. There have been budget cuts that have forced the officers to share body armor, thereby putting their lives in danger.

“I did not want to send someone out there with bad body armor, so I would take mine off and provide it to the other officers,” Thomison said. “I told them we have to provide this. There is an IC code that explains that and says that the town has to provide that body armor.”

The town council has denied these accusations outright.

According to Thomison, officers were also punished over personal bias. One example was when an officer pursued a drunk driver only to get a ticket for speeding.

Thomison says that this only happened because that officer had at one time pulled over a council members wife.

He went on to say that the town council didn’t give him his rightful benefits after returning from medical leave. He has cancer and took time off. When he got back he was only permitted to work 29.75 hours per week. He would have needed 30 to get the benefits.

“They came at me and said it is costing the town way too much money because of my insurance and they said we are taking you down to part time,” Thomison said.

Town officials said in a statement that they are building a new police force.

“Bunker Hill is in the process of obtaining a new marshal and reserve deputies. The council asks for patience from the town residents in this process.”