Some rural towns in the U.S. can no longer afford their police departments.
Kemp, Texas —It’s a crime what city hall did, some residents of this town say.
But eliminating the entire police department — chief and all — is just a sign of these penny-pinching times, according to law enforcement experts.
That’s little comfort to Cleo Brewer and other townsfolk, many of them retired and living on fixed incomes.
“No one wants to say their town doesn’t have a police force. It’s an invitation for trouble,” said Brewer, owner of the Western Cafe, a popular eatery.
Other residents of this relatively quiet town of 1,100 say the city simply had no choice.
For several years now, rural towns have been disbanding their police departments because they can’t afford them.
The trend is troubling to some experts, who say residents in towns without a police force typically endure longer response times, particularly for non-emergency calls. The towns also lose a familiar presence.
“When you decide to eliminate your agency, there are going to be consequences,” said Dianne Beer-Maxwell, a project manager for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, based in Virginia.
The Kemp Police Department became the latest casualty in May, when the town decided to lay off its five-person force and let the local sheriff’s department take over patrols.
However, a day after the force was disbanded, two businesses were burglarized — and some residents are still expressing concern about a future without a police department.
Continue reading here.
But eliminating the entire police department — chief and all — is just a sign of these penny-pinching times, according to law enforcement experts.
That’s little comfort to Cleo Brewer and other townsfolk, many of them retired and living on fixed incomes.
“No one wants to say their town doesn’t have a police force. It’s an invitation for trouble,” said Brewer, owner of the Western Cafe, a popular eatery.
Other residents of this relatively quiet town of 1,100 say the city simply had no choice.
For several years now, rural towns have been disbanding their police departments because they can’t afford them.
The trend is troubling to some experts, who say residents in towns without a police force typically endure longer response times, particularly for non-emergency calls. The towns also lose a familiar presence.
“When you decide to eliminate your agency, there are going to be consequences,” said Dianne Beer-Maxwell, a project manager for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, based in Virginia.
The Kemp Police Department became the latest casualty in May, when the town decided to lay off its five-person force and let the local sheriff’s department take over patrols.
However, a day after the force was disbanded, two businesses were burglarized — and some residents are still expressing concern about a future without a police department.
Continue reading here.
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