Former Calvin Police Chief Speaks Out On Reason For Leaving Department

The town of Calvin is without a police department right now.

The Calvin Police Chief and another officer both resigned at a city council meeting on Election Night. They both said one reason is because there’s a lack of resources. 

Calvin is a town of about 300 people, but their former Police Chief Erica Holter said even small towns have their issues.

“Calvin's a really good town. There's a lot of really good people, but there's a lot of work that needs to be done,” Holter said.

Holter spoke up during a recent city council meeting.

“I can no longer be chief of this agency,” Holter said.

The only other officer resigned as well with just two months on the force.

“Without Chief Holter’s guidance and with my inexperience I no longer feel safe enforcing the laws within this town,” Dylan Hale said.

Holter took over in June for Chief Joe Chitwood who was arrested last year for meth distribution.

“What they needed was a full overhaul on the police department. It was starting from ground zero,” Holter said.

Since then, she said she's worked hard to gain the community's trust with projects like putting in a school zone.

“The biggest risk that I saw was one child getting hit, hurt,” Holter said.

She said most of her frustration stemmed from city politics. 

“There's too much ole good boy things and that's not how I do law enforcement,” Holter said.

She reached her breaking point over the lack of funding and health insurance.

“I was told we have workman's comp and that's what we would deal with. If something happened,” Holter said.

Former Town Administrator Rex Jones, who also stepped down in February, said his hands were tied.

“I couldn't find any that the town could afford,” Rex Jones said.

The Town Attorney Lloyd Palmer said they’re looking to replace Holter and Dale.

“Several elderly people have come to and ask what are we going to do for law enforcement,” Jones said.

Palmer said the Hughes County Sheriff's office will patrol for now.

“It breaks my heart for those people,” Holter said.