In a stunning decision following an hours-long meeting, the Elton Town Council voted to lay off the entire police department, except Police Chief Bruce Lemelle, due to ongoing budget issues.

Chief Lemelle confirmed the move, stating, “They told me today that they didn’t have enough money to pay for my department. I would be the only one working in the department.”

This unexpected development comes after years of financial struggles for the Town of Elton. While council members expressed regret over the cuts, many acknowledged that their hands were tied due to the town’s deteriorating budget.

With the layoffs in effect, the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office will now handle all law enforcement calls within Elton, which is expected to result in longer response times for citizens in need of assistance.

The town's leadership has not yet announced any long-term plans for restoring local law enforcement services.

Stay tuned to KVPI for more updates on this story.