By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- The Barrackville Police Department in West Virginia has lost its entire force after a sergeant reported the evidence room had been broken into and was subsequently placed on inactive status along with the department’s remaining officer.
- Former Chief Zachary Freeburn resigned a week prior, citing disputes with the town council regarding departmental oversight and alleged overreach, and the police clerk also quit.
- The sergeant stated that after reporting evidence of the break-in on July 7, he alleged a council member could have been involved, prompting immediate removal from duty along with the other officer.
- A council member reportedly admitted to having taken police keys, according to the sergeant, who has notified city leaders that he is seeking whistleblower protections.
- Former Chief Freeburn alleged in a letter that a council member demanded direct oversight of the department and stated that policy, procedure, and daily work operations would be changed without discussion or input from leadership.
BARRACKVILLE, W.V. — The Barrackville Police Department has ceased operations after the removal of all department personnel following an evidence room break-in report and subsequent disputes between the sergeant and town council.
The sergeant of the department discovered evidence that the evidence room had been broken into on the morning of July 7, 2026. The sergeant called a meeting with the mayor and town council to report the break-in and noted that council members had previously expressed interest in inventorying the department without officers present.
According to the sergeant, one council member also admitted to having taken police keys. When the sergeant alleged that a government employee could have been involved in the break-in, both the sergeant and the department’s remaining officer were immediately placed on inactive status.
A Facebook post from the Barrackville Police Department confirmed that all officers have been relieved of duty.
The department’s collapse followed the resignation of Chief Zachary Freeburn on approximately July 1, one week prior to the evidence room incident. Freeburn cited disputes with the council regarding departmental autonomy and alleged council overreach.
In a letter written for a canceled town council meeting, Freeburn described his experience with council leadership. Freeburn alleged that a council member informed him that the individual would directly oversee the department and would be making changes to policy, procedure, and numerous directives, as well as changes to daily work schedules.
Freeburn stated he attempted to engage in professional discussion about potential changes, offering openness to improvements. The council member allegedly shut down the discussion, stating with authority that the individual was in charge and that directives would be followed without question or negotiation.
“Trying to be professional and realizing I do not know everything, I offered an open discussion into potential changes as I am always open to bettering myself and the Department. This was immediately shut down,” Freeburn stated in his letter.
The department’s police clerk also resigned during this period.
The former sergeant has notified city leaders that he is seeking whistleblower protections related to his report of the evidence room break-in.
Barrackville has an estimated population of approximately 1,200 residents according to 2020 census data.