ELTON, La. (KPLC) - After the Elton Town Council decided to lay off nearly the entire police force , residents and officials are raising several questions and wondering what’s next.

At the Aug. 7 town council meeting, it was announced that the department’s three patrol officers and two dispatchers were laid off, leaving only Police Chief Bruce Lemelle on the force.

The council cited financial issues as the reason for the decision, saying the police department was well over budget.

Lemelle disagreed, saying his department is not over budget this year.

“Police retirement is the biggest expense, and I think that has to come out of the police budget. I don’t think they added that in the budget,” Lemelle said. “They say I spent $12,000, estimated. Current expenditures $12,212.70. I went o

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