By Zoë Pickett
New documents reveal that the Town of Cullen’s liability insurance coverage was officially canceled earlier this year due to nonpayment.
A letter dated June 25, 2025, from Risk Management, Inc., a subsidiary of the Louisiana Municipal Association, was addressed to Mayor Terry Hoof and confirms that Cullen’s liability insurance was canceled effective midnight of that date. The letter cites nonpayment of premiums totaling $46,364.04 as the reason for cancellation.
The notice also references a separate email sent to Police Chief Rankin regarding the loss of professional liability coverage for the Cullen Police Department.
During the most recent town meeting, Mayor Terry Hoof reportedly told Chief Rankin that the town “needed help to pay the town’s bills from the police department because the water, sewer, and garbage is the only thing carrying the town.” The mayor added that the department “needed to be writing more tickets” to help generate additional revenue. Chief Rankin responded, “we need help too,” referring to the department’s own struggles, including lack of insurance and limited operational resources.
This latest revelation follows prior reports that Cullen’s police patrol units are uninsured and that officers must contact the mayor directly when fuel is needed. Sources have confirmed that the reason the department does not have a gas card is also due to nonpayment to the company that provides the fuel service.
In addition, several Cullen residents have confirmed that they are still being charged the same amount for trash pickup services, even though the town has not been contracted with Knights Services since February of this year. Garbage is being collected by town employees rather than a contracted service, but not on a set schedule, with some saying their trash has gone weeks without pickup.
The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office confirmed that the town is under active investigation, though no further details have been released at this time.
No comment has been given from Cullen Town Hall.