The Town of Prosperity is down on its luck when it comes to boosting police force numbers.

The shortage in the town's force came as former Chief Benji Sease retired on disability. Sgt. Scott Wilson was promoted to acting chief and then was fired for insubordination. Subsequently another officer went to work for the Newberry Police Department.

The town recently hired Sean Smith as police captain. Smith was a former Laurens County deputy and Whitmire police officer, but has been out of the profession for five years, which required he go back through the academy. On the day that Smith graduated from the academy, he resigned from the Prosperity police department.

Prosperity Mayor Larry Spotts said the town had paid Smith a salary for three weeks before he resigned and took a job with another department.

The town is searching for a police chief and an officer.

Currently the town has two officers that remain on duty. The Newberry County Sheriff's Office is assisting with providing patrols and answering calls in Prosperity.