“The reason that prompted the entire resignation was: it was just a continued failure from the mayor to make change that would affect the department and make it more effective for the community,” former Chief of Police Alicia Ford told Fox News Digital. “It was just an ongoing issue. He consistently refused to keep his word to us, and that was something that we held him to. When you’re a mayor, you’re [supposed] to lead the city and what’s best for the city and the departments within.”

Ford had communicated to the city council and the mayor multiple times that the police staff was overworked, understaffed, and underpaid. The former chief said nobody took action, even after her six-person department dwindled to only four officers, causing the employees to pull extensive overtime shifts every day of the week.

“They cut the jail. They cut our dispatch, and that put strain on us. But we found we went to another agency, and they have done excellent and accommodating us with that dispatch,” Ford said. “[The mayor] consistently refused to keep his word when it came to basic needs of equipment and the safety issues within our department. We talked about the budget cuts that caused hardships for these officers and myself that were unnecessary.”

Ford offered the city leaders a month to address the countless issues the department was facing, threatening resignations if the needs were not met. The resignations follow a trend across Oklahoma as four out of five deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office in northern Oklahoma resigned just days earlier.

It’s been reported that Geary will be receiving assistance from nearby Canadian and Blaine Sheriff’s offices amid the dissolve of the town’s officers. JJ Stitt, a distant cousin of Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) and Oklahoma and Texas peace officer, was appointed by the Geary city council to take over as interim Chief.

“It was the other night that I was given the information that, ‘Hey. We may have a problem at the police department. We’re going to need somebody to step up. Is it a possibility for you?’ I was hesitant at first,” JJ said. “I was like, ‘Hey. I’ll help out best I can.’”

Former city councilman Rocky Coleman said he resigned because the city’s current direction does not align with his personal views.

“I have tried to be a voice of reason. Unfortunately, I was just one voice. The City Council and administration should not allow personal goals or agendas to affect the city. Decisions should be made only to benefit the city,” he wrote in a letter to Fox 25.

“Transparency is also crucial for communication. I would love to see more communication online, not just in person. For example, the financial reports should be posted for the community to read. I have never shied away from explaining the state of the finances to any citizen who has asked. When people are informed, they are more likely to understand that we have a failing infrastructure and why rate increases must happen. I have repeatedly asked that we be more proactive instead of reactive. We should be prepared for the worst and not hoping for the best.”