Flomaton Police Chief Resigns Over His Pay Issues
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
November 7, 2026
FLOMATON, Ala. The Chief of Police for the City of Flomaton, Alabama is resigning according to city officials and a statement that Justin Hetrick has made publicly.
At the heart of the resignation, according to the former chief, was a payroll matter that has not been resolved.
After less than a year on the job, Chief Hetrick is stepping down because of financial reasons, but Mayor Arthur Odom says Chief Hetrick put in his resignation following rumors about the future of the department.
Both the police chief and the mayor disagree as to the reason for the employment separation.
There had been rumors that police department was disbanding and turning law enforcement over to the county sheriff’s office.
But Odom says those rumors were completely false.
On Sunday, Mayor Odom posted a public service announcement to Facebook. In all caps, the mayor writes, “the Flomaton Police Department is not closing.”
Odom goes on to write rumors are being spread, and he was concerned about the damage the rumors were causing to the morale of police officers and dispatchers.
“The statement has been made that some of the department employees are worrying about getting paid,” Odom said. “As long as I’ve been here and as far as I can ever remember, there’s not been, well there’s been an issue making payroll, but they’ve always received their payroll. They haven’t gone without a paycheck.”
“His reason was he was worried about getting a paycheck and he was really concerned about the police department closing down,” Odom said. “I tried my best to assure him that was not going to happen.”
Chief Hetrick fired back Thursday afternoon, sharing his resignation letter on the police department’s Facebook page.
Hetrick writes this decision was not based on any rumor or speculation. He goes on to say this was a personal decision he made for the betterment of his family.
Hetrick’s last day was next Friday the 13th. He was on the job as chief for just under a year.
Mayor Odom says they’re already looking for their next chief.
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