The entire police force of a small Oklahoma town resigned Thursday without explanation, leaving the place in crisis and locals demanding answers.
The mass resignation along with two city council members was announced in a Facebook post in which locals were told that an acting police chief would still remain policing the small town.
Geary, with a population of approximately 1,000, is now under the control of forces from neighboring Blaine and Canadian counties.
But the announcement has left locals perplexed, as the original statement shed little light on what was behind the mass strike.
Geary Police Chief Alicia Ford posted an announcement following the police force’s resignation suggesting Geary City Council may have been behind her decision to resign.
The entire police force in Geary, a small Oklahoma town, resigned Thursday without explanation, leaving the place in a state of turmoil.
‘To the citizens of Geary. “We regret to inform you and are saddened to say that our entire police force resigned this morning at 10:00 a.m.,” Terryl Allen, Geary’s public information officer, said in a statement.
“Given this information, we were able to quickly secure an interim police chief effective immediately, so the city of Geary is being served without delay.”
Locals seemed bewildered by the sudden resignation and there was little to be gained by reading the Facebook comments.
‘But why did everyone resign?’ asked one.
“I think what everyone wants is an explanation of what happened. Did the entire city police withdraw at the same time and without explanation? asked Robert Binswanger.
Geary, with a population of about 1,000, is now being covered by forces from neighboring Blaine and Canadian counties.
—It seems to me. You have to call the mayor…all you have to do is circulate a petition around town. He seems like a corrupt leader,” Houston Mitchell added.
Others suggested the city council could be behind the decision.
‘Most likely, the city council would not let the boss rule the city and violate rights. When entire departments quit, it tells you you had a gang, not a police force. Goodbye and good job city council!! Now hire good cops if you can find any. Good luck with that!!’ wrote Thomas Cannon.
Another comment suggested the council was to blame for the resignation.
‘It’s city hall… it has nothing to do with the police department or its officers. Most of the time the city council does illegal and unethical things that corner the police. They are followers of the law. It’s not your fault. They are corrupt city officials,” said Emily Abernathy.
“Since I’ve lived here there’s been one drama after another and I’m worried that this city has to be built and not fall,” said local resident Sonja Luquette. KOCO 5.
‘We need to find out what the problem is and solve it. “We have to solve it and we have to start from the top,” he added.
Geary Police Chief Alicia Ford also released her own announcement following the resignation, suggesting the Geary City Council may have been behind her decision to resign.
The sudden announcement from the Geary Police Department was posted on Facebook on Thursday.
‘Thank you to the citizens of Geary for allowing me (Alicia Ford) to be your boss for the past year. “It is with great sadness that I and the rest of the Geary Police Officers will no longer be serving this community,” he wrote.
‘This choice was very difficult to make, but it was the right decision for me and the other officers. I have watched officers serve this community selflessly, working hard to protect and provide the best quality of service possible. “They have been an incredible team that was always willing to sacrifice for this community.”
Ford, who took office in 2023, went on to say that he encouraged community members to “take the time to get to know council members and get involved as much as possible in the city, especially by attending city council meetings.”
“Your voices are stronger when you are united as one and you all have the ability to make the change you want to see in your community,” Ford added.
Meanwhile, acting Chief JJ Stitt will fill Ford’s position, although the appointment also raised eyebrows after Stitt was hired by the city to conduct an audit of the police department.
Ford took office in 2023 after the council fired former Police Chief Cecil Harrall following an affair.
Of the two council members who resigned, Rocky Coleman said their core values did not align with the city’s direction.
City Councilwoman Kristy Miller said she resigned because she didn’t believe the mayor was acting in the city’s best interest.