SURFSIDE BEACH, Texas — The Surfside Beach Police Department was left with one active officer after the rest of the force turned in their badges this week.
The city's mayor said they're going to start interviewing officers on Thursday, but for the time being, the community would be protected by the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety, as well as reserve officers.
On Monday, the police chief and three other officers resigned. On Wednesday, four more resignations left only one active officer, who was promoted to interim chief in the wake of the mass exodus.
"This was kind of sprung on me at the last minute and I'm trying to work everything out," Interim Police Chief Kelly Marsh said.
The department was only made up of 10 officers, nine of which were active. The inactive officer, Detective Robert Bosco, was on medical leave and said he plans to resign this week, too.
"You're going to have the truth, your truth and the actual truth, and that's what it boils down to, is the actual truth. We support one. That one [Former chief William Moncier] kept this city rolling," said Bosco
The resignations are allegedly due to issues between Surfside Beach City Council and the police department.
Officers said there was backlash and harassment directed at the police chief and them after some residents with connections to council members filed complaints when officers began enforcing laws.
Some residents claimed the former chief wasn't doing his job and was creating a hostile work environment.
"Things just weren't going well at City Hall and I think that it was, most of it had to do with the police chief we had," Austin Campbell said.
Others said they felt like the former chief was doing his job but was mistreated.
"The whole police department resigning is really much more of a true testament of the people in mass and how they feel about things," David Williams said.
It's clear the community is divided on where they stand.