LIPSCOMB, Alabama - It appears the City of Lipscomb is now without a police force.

It came without warning Friday night when, sources say, Lipscomb Mayor Lance McDade simply walked into the police department and shut it down. McDade then sent an email to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office saying, "This is to inform that the City of Lipscomb has laid off its Police Department and Dispatch and is requesting Sheriff patrol for this weekend."

The email was sent at 9:10 p.m. It doesn't appear it was accompanied by explanation or additional communication.

"We will be answering emergency calls and patrolling the city while they are in flux,'' Sheriff Mike Hale said today. "We will not be answering calls controlled by or enforcing any city ordinances, only emergencies and state law covered calls."

"We have a constitutional obligation to all citizens of Jefferson County including the city of Lipscomb and will deliver the service while they work through this situation,'' Hale said. "We will not allow the safety of those citizens to be vulnerable or go unchecked."

Efforts to reach McDade and police officials for comment this morning weren't successful. A woman is answering calls at the police and fire dispatch number, but she declined to answer questions about the status of the police force. The city clerk said she was aware of the situation, but referred calls to McDade.

Neighboring police departments said they weren't officially notified about Lipscomb shutting down police services. Bessemer Deputy Police Chief Mike Roper said he heard of the layoffs through the grapevine. "I spoke with our mayor and he hadn't heard anything either,'' he said.

Roper said Bessemer police were prepared to back up sheriff's deputies over the weekend, but said they don't have the budget to patrol Lipscomb on a regular basis.

Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens said that because of county budget constraints, there will be no enhanced sheriff's services in Lipscomb like a city under contract. "But the county will provide patrols just as in any other incorporated area like Mulga,'' Stephens said. "Citizens will see a sheriff's presence in the City of Lipscomb and we have Sheriff Mike Hale to thank for that."

More information will be released as it becomes available.

AL.com reporter Barnett Wright contributed to this report.