Multiple small towns across America have recently disbanded their police units due to staffing and budgeting challenges. This shortage of officers has been linked to the “two-fold morale hit of 2020” – the COVID-19 pandemic and the criticism of law enforcement that followed the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. The resulting Black Lives Matter protests led to a nationwide push to “defund the police,” which further contributed to the dissolution of these departments.
A report from the Associated Press reveals that at least 12 towns have chosen to dissolve their police departments and transfer the responsibility of law enforcement to their county sheriff, a neighboring town, or state police. One such example is Goodhue, Minnesota, where Police Chief Josh Smith was forced to make this decision after struggling to fill vacancies in his small department.
Smith warned that without improvements in pay and benefits, it would be impossible to attract new officers. When no changes were made by August, Smith and the remaining officers resigned. Goodhue resident Taylor Buck acknowledges that while the community has a history of low crime, the national attention could potentially lead to an increase in criminal activity. Buck believes that the departure of officers is both due to inadequate pay and a larger societal issue.
In the meantime, the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office will provide law enforcement assistance for the rest of the year, and discussions with the city council are underway for 2024. Sheriff Marty Kelly, who is also facing hiring shortages for similar reasons, expresses concerns about the situation, stating, “We are robbing Peter to pay Paul, and we’re not alone.”
According to a survey conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), police officer resignations rose by 47% last year compared to 2019, while retirements increased by 19%. However, this survey only represents a fraction of the more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide and may not be fully representative of the entire situation.
Alongside the challenges of officer retention and recruitment, many departments have also experienced a shortage of young individuals seeking to join law enforcement. Chuck Wexler, the executive director of PERF, explains that fewer people are applying to be police officers due to various factors, leading to a shortage across the country.
Several towns that have disbanded their police departments have reported no significant changes in crime statistics. Officials have expressed satisfaction with this change, emphasizing that the county sheriff’s offices have been responsive and efficient in their law enforcement duties. For instance, Washburn, Illinois, disbanded its police department in 2021 due to a lack of qualified part-time police help and increased costs associated with a state crime-reform bill. Mayor Steve Forney believes that the change has been beneficial for the village, stating that the sheriff’s department is responsive and that he feels it is working for them.
In Lott, Texas, the police department was dissolved last year due to financial difficulties. Mayor Sue Tacker explains that the town was going broke and couldn’t afford the necessary staff. Since the department’s closure, county deputies have been patrolling the small town without any complaints from residents. The decision to eliminate the police department was projected to help the city improve its financial situation.
It is worth noting that while small towns have been disbanding their police departments, major cities have also experienced reductions in their police budgets as a result of the defund police movement. Advocacy groups have successfully secured significant cuts in funding for police departments and redirected those resources towards community services. Austin, Texas, for example, saw a $150 million cut approved by its city council following a police shooting incident.
Overall, the dissolution of police departments in small towns across America reflects the challenges these communities face in recruiting and retaining officers. While some towns have reported positive experiences with alternative law enforcement arrangements, the impact of these changes on community safety and crime rates remains a subject of ongoing discussion and evaluation.
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