By Tiffany Flournoy
CULLEN, La. — More than $60,000 in unpaid and past-due bills tied to Cullen’s police operations have created mounting financial strain and raised serious operational concerns, according to documents obtained by the Webster Parish Journal. The records — detailing police-related services, equipment and municipal costs — show a pattern of debt dating back to 2024 that escalated into tangible operational risk by early 2026.
By the numbers
Municipal expenses affecting police operations
- Thousands of dollars (More than $46K) — Municipal liability insurance (canceled; included town vehicles, including police cruisers, and other municipal operations)
Police department–specific expenses
- $3,433.44 — Fuel vendor (Smith’s South-Central Sales Co.; remains outstanding)
- $4,328.76 — Phone and internet services
- $1,596.00 — Police radios (surrendered to Harrington Communications at vendor request due to nonpayment)
- $1,205.31 — Copier lease (in default)
- $191.88 — Electric bill (disconnect notice; resolved immediately before cutoff)
- $971.24 — Office equipment supplies (C. F. Biggs Company, Inc.)
- $109.99 — Equipment invoice (Teeco Safety)
- $2,100 — Dispatch services owed to City of Springhill for months of nonpayment
(Only reflects records recently reviewed by the Webster Parish Journal)
Note:Reportedly police-related bills are submitted to and paid through the town’s office rather than directly by the department. While the largest portion of the costs reflects municipal insurance covering multiple town operations, the combination of municipal and police-specific debts underscores broader fiscal strain affecting public safety functions.
Early warning signs
A September 2024 invoice from Teeco Safety went unpaid, signaling the town had already begun falling behind on obligations before larger financial challenges emerged.
In June 2025, the Louisiana Municipal Risk Management Agency notified the town that unpaid premiums would trigger cancellation, effective July 25. The coverage included town vehicles and municipal items beyond the police department, including patrol units. In recent months, the town secured insurance for patrol units through Progressive after municipal vehicles had operated for an extended period without coverage.
Operational strain escalates
By late 2025, fuel debt with Smith’s South-Central Sales Co. reached $3,433.44, most of it more than 90 days past due. The account remains outstanding. According to the department, prior to emergency assistance from the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, calls for fuel went unanswered by Mayor Terry Hoof, and communications were reportedly inconsistent.
In a council meeting prior to the fuel shortage, the mayor instructed Police Chief Fannie Rankin to meet him at the bank to secure a debit card for fuel. Rankin replied that she first needed to see an official police department budget. She later expressed concerns about how funds would flow to the card and questioned whose information would need to be linked — hers or the town’s. Previously, the mayor had been meeting officers directly to facilitate fueling at their request, but the department says it was not always prioritized promptly.
On Feb. 5, 2026, a patrol unit ran out of fuel and had to be towed. The Sheriff’s Office stepped in to provide emergency fueling so officers could continue responding to calls.
That same day, the department surrendered radios to Harrington Communications at the vendor’s request due to $1,596 in unpaid invoices. Separately, the City of Springhill discontinued dispatch services for nonpayment, with $2,100 owed for several months of service. A February 2026 bill from Brightspeed shows $4,328.76 owed for phone and internet services. A March 5, 2026 disconnect notice from Entergy Louisiana showed $191.88 past due, which was resolved immediately before cutoff.
Administrative operations were also affected. A copier lease from GreatAmerica Financial Services is in default at $1,205.31, and C. F. Biggs Company, Inc. billed approximately $971.24 for ongoing office supplies.
Records show a patrol unit operating with a cracked windshield and an expired inspection sticker. According to the department, it has operated without a formal budget since 2025. Concerns also persist over unpaid municipal retirement obligations.
Adding to the strain, the town’s only officer aside from the chief had a town-issued payroll check returned last week for insufficient funds. The officer contacted both the mayor and the town clerk via email. Reportedly, no immediate response was received from the mayor. In an email response, the clerk stated that the town’s office is closed Friday through Sunday and told the officer the bank had processed the check twice; however, the officer confirmed the bank processed the check only once. The matter has since been addressed, pending the sufficiency of a replacement check.
The department says this is not the first time payroll checks have been returned or issued with delayed or post-dated payment.
In multiple cases, unpaid accounts reached default or triggered vendor action.
“While insurance coverage for patrol units has been secured in recent months, unpaid bills and recurring payroll issues continue to place financial and operational strain on the department, raising concerns about its ability to sustain basic public safety functions.