AP: Some Small Towns Are Disbanding Their Police Forces

 The article is here. A couple points to put this in perspective: First, when it says "small towns," it is being serious. The largest of the towns mentioned in the article has a population of roughly 5,000 people and most of the others are well below that. Second, these towns are not being left without law enforcement because they are simply contracting with the local sheriff's department to take over law enforcement. 

    The more important issue is why these towns are deciding to close down their police departments. The article begins by stating:

America is in the midst of a police officer shortage that many in law enforcement blame on the twofold morale hit of 2020 — the coronavirus pandemic and criticism of police that boiled over with the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. From Minnesota to Maine, Ohio to Texas, small towns unable to fill jobs are eliminating their police departments and turning over police work to their county sheriff, a neighboring town or state police.

But as you continue, you will see that these are not the causes of these small towns closing down their police departments, as least not directly. Rather, it is more a factor of inflation and increased wages/salaries being offered to police officers as larger department lose officers. Basically, these towns can no longer afford to pay the rapidly increasing costs of having a police force. So they are opting to go without a dedicated police force.

    And the results?

    Generally, crime rates were unchanged in towns that dropped their departments, the Rice University study found. Leaders of several towns said they’ve been happy with the change.

    Town leaders in Washburn, Illinois, dissolved their department in 2021 and let the county take over law enforcement duties for its 1,100 residents.

    “You really can’t tell much of any difference,” Mayor Steve Forney said. “The sheriff’s department is very responsive. I like it. I was always one who was very hesitant to go this direction, but I feel it’s working for us.”

    Lott, Texas, a town of about 700 residents, disbanded its department last year. Mayor Sue Tacker said the town was going broke and couldn’t afford to pay two officers and two other employees.

    With county deputies now patrolling Lott, the crime rate remains low and response times have been good, Tacker said. She believes residents are OK with the change.

    “I haven’t had any griping or fussing,” Tacker said.