The small community of Geary, Oklahoma, home to roughly 1,000 residents, was left bewildered and concerned following the sudden resignation of its entire police force. The four-officer team, along with two city council members, resigned without providing an immediate explanation, leaving the town in a state of uncertainty.
Residents voiced their worries and frustrations over the abrupt departures. One local, Sonja Luquette, lamented, “Our town has been stripped down to its bare bones.” Another resident, who chose to remain unnamed, expressed fears about the potential risks of a town without a police force and hinted at potential misconduct and corruption within the town’s administration.
The mass resignations were announced via a social media post by the former police chief, Alicia Ford. While she did not provide a specific reason for the departures, she expressed her sorrow over the situation. “It is with a heavy heart that we, the Geary police officers, will no longer be serving this community,” Ford wrote. “However, it was the right decision for me and the other officers.”
Ford also disclosed that a consultant, initially hired by the city council to investigate the police department, had been appointed as the interim chief. The new interim chief, JJ Stitt, confirmed his unexpected appointment and expressed his initial hesitation. Despite being unaware of the exact reasons behind the resignations, Stitt agreed to step up and lead the department.
The sudden appointment of Stitt has raised eyebrows among residents, given his initial role as a consultant for the police department. Geary resident Tatum Wigington expressed skepticism, saying, “The same person who was hired to audit the police department is now the interim chief. That seems a bit suspicious.”
In addition to the police force, former city council members Rocky Coleman and Kristy Miller also resigned. In a letter, Coleman stated that his values did not align with the city’s current direction.
For now, law enforcement support for Geary will be provided by the Blaine County and Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, according to Stitt. Despite the upheaval, he insisted that it was not a crisis situation and that it would be “business as usual” in the small town.
The City of Geary has yet to comment on the situation.