We believe Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier is making the right choice by asking the FBI to take over an investigation into an alleged gun mill that involved a former evidence technician.

The case, which involves more than 200 guns that were stolen from the department’s evidence vault, deserves the right amount of resources and attention, and the FBI can give it that.

When news of the investigation broke, Collier called it one of the biggest criminal conspiracy cases he has seen. It is almost like something out of a movie.

Collier requested the FBI’s involvement because an investigator with the Attorney General’s Office that is looking into the case has a history in Selma. Collier said the investigator worked at the department for more than 10 years and worked with a now former officer that could be facing charges in the case. Collier is not making any accusations, but he wants to make sure the case is investigated properly. Having an agency with no connection to Selma is the right way to go about it.

There should be no chances taken with this case given the seriousness of it and no appearance of impropriety. We hope the FBI takes Collier’s request and has a swift but thorough investigation.

The department has been open and honest about the case thus far, showing they are willing to police their own and hold their officers to a higher standard.