By Tiffany Flournoy
Editor’s Note: This article is part of ongoing coverage of the Town of Cullen. The Webster Journal will continue to monitor and report on further developments.
CULLEN, La. — Routine law enforcement in the Town of Cullen remains functionally paralyzed as police cruisers enter a third consecutive month parked without fuel — leaving parish deputies to absorb a heavy volume of emergency calls while municipal leadership continues to dodge questions surrounding town finances.
The two patrol units, initially sidelined in early May, have now been non-operational for more than eight weeks. With Cullen’s small force unable to patrol or respond to calls for service, the burden has fallen squarely on the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office to maintain public safety for a town with a population of under 800 residents.
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said the situation has placed a strain on his agency. Since May, parish deputies have responded to at least 64 calls for service inside Cullen town limits — a staggering volume for a municipality of its size— handling everything from fights and domestic disputes to reports of shots fired at a local apartment complex.
When parish deputies initially stepped in to assist, Parker noted it was intended as a temporary fix to bridge a short-term gap. However, what was supposed to be a brief arrangement has dragged on for months with no local resolution in sight. While Parker noted his office lacks the manpower and budget to post dedicated deputies inside the town full-time, he made it clear that where public safety is concerned, parish law enforcement will not abandon the citizens of the town of Cullen as they await a resolution.
Taking over local law enforcement means far more than answering 911 calls. Parish deputies have taken on the complete back-end operation of Cullen’s police department: conducting full investigations, writing reports, transporting arrestees, issuing citations, collecting and submitting evidence to the state crime lab, and submitting cases to the District Attorney’s office when charges warrant. It places a heavy administrative and legal burden on WPSO deputies, who are executing dual roles for the exact same pay as taxpayers foot the bill for duplicate services.
The law enforcement crisis in Cullen actually began well before the cruisers ran out of gas. The Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office had already been called upon to serve as Cullen’s primary dispatcher after neighboring Springhill terminated its dispatching agreement with the town due to Cullen’s failure to pay its bills.
Despite the ongoing public safety breakdowns, plans are moving forward for a major public gathering in the town. Alderwoman Denise Epps-Hoof recently announced via social media “FROGGY BOTTOM REUNION 2026 Sept. 4th and 5th Save the dates Share.”
The announcement has raised immediate concerns about crowd management and security, given that the municipal police force remains completely grounded and parish deputies are already stretched thin covering routine town calls.
At the center of the fuel shutdown is a long-standing impasse over municipal accounts. Months back, Cullen Police Chief Fannie Rankin said that the department had been without a dedicated fuel card for nearly a year following unpaid balances owed to vendor Smith’s South Central.
Meanwhile, Mayor Hoof has consistently refused to address the grounded vehicles or clarify the town’s financial standing. Reached directly for comment regarding the fuel shortages and the stranded police units, Hoof responded, “I’m not interested in it, Ms. Tiffany. I’m working right now,” before abruptly hanging up. Four minutes later, Hoof sent a text message that read: : “nocommentever.” Subsequent calls to Cullen Town Hall have gone unanswered or disconnected immediately after ringing.
The current fuel shortage follows a broader pattern of financial disruptions, including a six-day lapse in auto insurance coverage earlier this year due to late payments and a prior incident, where a police cruiser ran out of gas near the department and required a tow while the officer operating it was on duty.