(CNN)Vincent, Alabama's city councilvoted Thursday to abolish the police, at least temporarily. did. , two months after one of the officers sent a text message containing racist language to a colleague. It voted to disband the three police stations, sparking outrage after being posted online in late July. The incident passed the suspension of the police chief and assistant chief of police, the third mate resigned that night, and the town of nearly 2,000 residents was left without an active population. police officer.
It also approved a resolution calling for the dismissal of two police officers, but at a meeting on Monday, the city's attorney general rejected two written complaints and a verbal warning in front of employees. The request was denied, citing the city's personnel policy of requiring it. can be terminated.
On Thursday, an official ordinance disbanding the police was put to a vote and passed unanimously.
Earlier in the day, Mayor James Lattimore told CNN that the ordinance would dissolve the department and that the city would enter into a permanent law enforcement coverage contract with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
The two suspended officers will be fired five days after the ordinance is passed, Lattimore said in a town hall Thursday. on a forum, two police officers said they had recently submitted their resignation papers.
The mayor also outlined a timeline of events related to the text, adding that it was sent "sometime in June."
Before the council voted, member Corey Abrams motioned to add the word "temporarily" to the ordinance, prompting local leaders to start the division from scratch. It gave time to build and rebuild personnel. policy.
"We can bring the police back. Shelby County and he worked together for a year, and once we had time to interview people to find the right people to build positions, We can bring back the police," Lattimore said.
During a crowded two-hour forum at the high school, most residents expressed a desire to leave the police station in Vincent, highlighting concerns about possible long wait times in an emergency.
"When you outsource law enforcement, you lose some of that security," said resident Rick Crowder.
Lattimore affirmed the residents as they gathered, "It's not the end of the Vincent Police Department."
