Cochran Police Chief Will Retire Due to ‘Political Climate’

Cochran Police Chief James Sanders announced he will retire, less than two weeks after Mayor Cliff Avant is arrested on felony theft charges.

In a news release, the mayor says council called Sanders a liar after this incident, making this the chief’s “final straw.”

Chief Sanders has been in law enforcement for 44 years. He spent 24 of those with the Cochran Police Department.

“The political climate right now has kind of pushed me to believing in that it is time to move on and time to retire,” Chief Sanders told 41NBC.

Chief Sanders is 9 months short of the required 25 years of service to draw a hundred percent of his retirement benefits.

His last day will be December 31st. Sanders looks forward to spending more time with his family.