Wild West in SW MO?

[Johnsfolly]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/missouri-city-police-chief-unexpectedly-resigns-along-with-every-single-officer/ar-AAOio5F?ocid=msedgntp

Have folks seen this. Wonder how many small police departments will follow suit. May just be the tip of the iceberg.

[Nick Adams]

It happens every couple years around the Springfield area, always for the same reasons. Those small towns pay so poorly that they are either stepping stones to larger departments or people leave to make more in another field. The article implies it has to do with protests and defunding, but if you read the local stories about it, it's mostly just about pay and poor working conditions.

 

https://www.ky3.com/2021/09/08/kimberling-city-police-department-chief-all-his-officers-announce-resignations/

[Dutch]

The little town where our farm is,  bought a police car and advertised for a chief….no pay just good experience.  Elvis crawled out of the cemetery and took the job.  He was a top notch rip snorting go getter until he totaled the police car.  He didn’t have to resign.

[Terrierman]

Kimberling City has a lot of problems in addition to the police force.  A LOT.

[snagged in outlet 3]

24 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

Kimberling City has a lot of problems in addition to the police force.  A LOT.

Like what?   Violence?

[Terrierman]

Not violence.  Aging sewer system that's a maintenance night mare with sewer bills that are > $100/mo for a residential user.  And needs major upgrades soon.  NO community water system - a patchwork of aging and inadequate private and POA systems.  No fire department, they rely on Stone County Volunteer FD.  Aging population that won't fund anything.  They can't keep a city manager, city attorney, city clerk, street department you name it...  Their town council meetings are the definition of dysfunction.  

It's a town in a beautiful place that I would never live in or recommend to anyone I cared about.  Been around them for way too long, heard how the next guy is going to fix everything and he/she doesn't make it six months before bolting.

[Gavin]

The PD payroll is the biggest line item in many N St Louis County municipality budgets and  I’m sure it’s the same for many rural towns. Those small cities don’t pay very well and there gonna lose allot of people in this job market. Heard that Shannon County no longer has 24/7 emergency services because the can’t afford it anymore, and that the jail is closing.

[fishinwrench]

I suppose that many are like me.   I've lived 57 years, in small towns, medium sized towns, and big city's, and I've never needed a cop. And the few times when someone I know could have used one....they were either absent or arrived too late to be of any use. 

When trying to think of a more useless profession...... I find myself having a hard time thinking of one.   Pastor maybe?.....but you're not forced to pay that guy. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

10 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

but you're not forced to pay that guy. 

Not forced but…..😆

[fishinwrench]

4 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Not forced but…..😆

You could pay the pastor and pray that you never need a cop.   Results would be the same.  😏