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The Melcher-Dallas City Council is seeking a solution to a situation that led to four police officers resigning as a group, without notice.

All four men have full-time jobs, and worked as officers during their time off. They resigned after the newly elected city council and mayor asked them to revise those hours to times when they would be most needed, rather than when convenient.

Marion County Attorney Ed Bull was at the meeting, and encouraged the council that if they were to hire officers, that those officers be trained to the level that they could investigate serious crimes, and not only patrol the streets.

“There’s no question the city of Melcher and the city of Dallas deserve the very best law enforcement, so essentially, my concern is to ensure the people have the protection that they need, and in turn, that we have qualified officers that are able to thoroughly conduct investigations and assist my office in the prosecution of offenders,” Bull tells KNIA/KRLS News.

Bull also suggested the officers live in the community.

The meeting grew confrontational when a resident in the audience asked if the officers resigning had turned in their uniforms, badges and weapons, including two AR-15 semi-automatic rifles. Others in the audience expressed shock and concern that the AR-15’s had been purchased by the city. Some equipment has been returned, and the guns have not. It is possible the AR-15’s are owned by the officers who resigned, and that they just purchased them through the city. The council will examine the officer’s contracts to see if that is the case, and is seeking to get all inventory that belongs to the city returned.

Mayor Barb Van Wyk tells KNIA/KRLS they will consider all options, from hiring a new chief to contracting with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for all law enforcement. She says everyone on the council wants what’s best for the community.