According to a town Facebook post and local reporting, the mayor and town council relieved the entire Barrackville Police Department of duty Tuesday, days after Chief Zachary Freeburn resigned “effective immediately,” a move that has prompted questions about oversight and evidence handling in the town.
Barrackville Police Department: What happened
The Barrackville Town Council’s public Facebook post said the mayor and council relieved the department of duty immediately. The post did not provide detailed reasons for the action. The July 7 town council meeting, where the resignation had been expected to be discussed, was canceled by the council “citing a lack of sufficient information regarding items listed under unfinished business,” the same Facebook post said.
According to an earlier department announcement, Zachary Freeburn was appointed full-time chief in December 2025 after graduating from the West Virginia State Police Academy and earning a Drug Recognition Expert certification. Freeburn submitted a resignation letter he planned to read at the July 7 meeting; that meeting was canceled before he presented it, local reporting shows.
Allegations about the evidence room and council actions
Local reporting by WBOY and comments from current and former department members allege that newly elected council members sought operational control of the department. In a letter shared with WBOY that was intended for the canceled meeting, Freeburn said he was told a council member would implement operational changes and directly supervise police operations — directives he said he believed would violate West Virginia law governing municipal police departments.
Sgt. Hunt told WBOY he discovered the police evidence room had been entered when he arrived at the department. Hunt also said town officials discussed conducting an inventory without officers present and that Councilmember Alex Neville acknowledged taking a set of police keys during a meeting with town officials, according to WBOY. After Hunt raised concerns about the alleged entry, he said he and another sworn officer were immediately relieved of duty.
Caveat: These allegations about evidence-room access and directives from council members remain unverified by independent sources. Fox News Digital has reported on the claims and has not independently verified Sgt. Hunt’s or others’ allegations; WBOY is the local outlet that originally reported many of the interviews and documents cited in this story.
Town response and how calls will be covered
The town’s public Facebook post did not provide a detailed explanation for relieving the department or address the specific allegations from officers. Fox News Digital and WBOY report that town officials have not issued an extended public statement beyond the social-post notice and meeting cancellation.
Marion County Sheriff Roger Cunningham told WBOY that his office will continue responding to calls in Barrackville, as it routinely does across the county. That arrangement is intended to ensure residents continue to receive law enforcement services while the town lacks an active local force.
Community reaction and local impact
The action and the canceled meeting have prompted public concern in the small town. Local social posts and reporting noted an online petition urging Freeburn’s reinstatement, with organizers and some residents saying they believe the chief was forced to resign amid what they call council overreach.
For a town of roughly 1,200 residents, temporary loss of an active local police presence raises practical worries about response times, continuity of evidence handling and public trust in municipal oversight, residents and local reporting say.
What comes next for policing and oversight
Possible next steps include a formal inventory or review of the evidence room, inquiries into whether any directives given to officers complied with West Virginia law, and rescheduled public meetings where residents can press for answers. Freeburn’s letter — shared with WBOY — alleges directives he believed conflicted with state law; if pursued formally, those claims could draw scrutiny from state oversight bodies or legal review.
Marion County’s continued assistance in covering calls reduces immediate public-safety risk, but residents and advocates say they expect transparent answers about why the department was relieved and what policies will guide future municipal oversight.
Source and next reporting steps
This account is based on the Barrackville Town Council’s public Facebook post, reporting by WBOY and original reporting by Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital has reached out to town officials, the Barrackville Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for comment. Local reporters and residents are tracking any rescheduled council meetings, inventory reports or formal statements from municipal leaders; further updates are likely after those developments.
Frequently asked questions
What happened with Barrackville Police Department?
The mayor and town council relieved the entire department of duty days after Chief Zachary Freeburn resigned. A planned July 7 council meeting where his resignation and concerns were to be discussed was canceled.
Why does Barrackville Police Department matter?
Barrackville is a small community of about 1,200 residents; local policing, evidence handling and transparent municipal oversight are central to residents’ safety and trust in a town this size.
What happens next?
Marion County will continue to respond to calls. Officials may conduct inventories or reviews, and residents expect additional public meetings or statements from town leaders. Allegations about evidence-room access and directives from council members remain unverified and could prompt further inquiry.
Source: Fox News Digital — original reporting at foxnews.com; local reporting by WBOY and the Barrackville Town Council’s public Facebook post.
