KEMP - The Kaufman County town of Kemp has laid off its police chief and four police officers, as well as the department’s part-time secretary, due to budget woes.
The city’s some 1,200 residents will now rely on the sheriff’s department for law enforcement.
The Dallas Morning News reports Chief Richard Clemmo said he and his force had no warning that the department was to be disbanded. Clemmo is currently running for sheriff of Kaufman County.
The City of Kemp website issued this notice for citizens Wednesday.
Kemp is not the first East Texas town to cut its police force. Last year, the City of Alto in Cherokee County furloughed officers because of the city's budget shortfall. Four months later, the department was reinstated after a rash of break-ins, burglaries and attempted burglaries or break-ins at residences and businesses.