Policies & Impacts

Small Town Police Departments Across US in Peril

Law Enforcement is often the largest slice of pie in small town budgets; the smaller the tax base, the more challenging it is to meet all the financial demands.
Small Town Police Departments Across US in Peril
A Barnstable Police cruiser sits at the top of Marchant Avenue as police investigate the death of Saoirse Kennedy Hill, the granddaughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy, at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Mass., Aug. 1, 2019. Faith Ninivaggi/Reuters
Beth Brelje
Beth Brelje
Reporter
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In Goodhue, Minnesota, population 1,252, the entire police force is quitting as of Aug. 24. All have found jobs in surrounding police departments that offer higher pay; that includes Goodhue Police Chief Josh Smith, one full-time officer, and five part-time officers.

Mr. Smith didn’t respond to a request for comment, but in a recent city council meeting, he indicated that the pay offered by the city is too low to attract new employees. A new officer with police training but no job experience would have been offered $22 per hour, but the city is reevaluating the rate.

Beth Brelje
Beth Brelje
Reporter
Beth Brelje is a former reporter with The Epoch Times. Ms. Brelje previously worked in radio for 20 years and after moving to print, worked at Pocono Record and Reading Eagle.
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