Alabama police force put on leave after grand jury says it operated like a "criminal enterprise"

A small Alabama city placed its entire police force on administrative leave a day after a grand jury recommended the department be disbanded, saying it has "operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency."

Hanceville Mayor Jim Sawyer said Thursday in a statement that the Cullman County Sheriff's Department will temporarily take over law enforcement duties as city officials mull the next steps. "It is unfortunate that the actions of a few have tarnished our city's good name,'' Sawyer said in a previous statement. 

Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker announced Wednesday that the grand jury had indicted the Hanceville police chief and four of his officers, who are accused of mishandling or removing materials from the department's evidence room.