Minnesota Town Mayor Caught Off Guard as Entire Police Force Resigns

The Entire Police Force Resigns in Small Minnesota Town

The entire police force, including the chief of police, has resigned in a small Minnesota town called Goodhue. The officers cited complaints of low pay and long hours that were not addressed. The city, which has a population of just over 1,000, may be without police officers by August 23. Goodhue has faced difficulties in attracting new recruits and providing competitive salaries to its officers. The mayor, who is nonpartisan, expressed surprise at the resignations and assured residents that the city would still be protected.

Mayor Ensures Continued Police Coverage

The city of Goodhue will continue to have police coverage, according to Mayor Ellen Anderson Buck. However, Police Chief Josh Smith recently announced that he and several other employees have resigned due to difficulties in finding individuals interested in police work.

Challenges in Hiring New Recruits

The article discusses the challenges faced by a police department in hiring new recruits. The police chief, Smith, expresses frustration over the lack of applicants and prospects for new hires. He mentions that he has reached out to other police departments to find young individuals interested in joining the force but has been unsuccessful. Despite his commitment to the department, Smith acknowledges the toll that his demanding job takes on his personal life, stating that he does not want to continue working long hours and being on call constantly, leaving no time for his family.

Salary Increase to Attract Candidates

The Goodhue City Council in Minnesota has decided to increase the salary of Police Chief Smith by $13,000 and raise the salaries of other officers by 5% this year. Smith expressed concerns about the difficulty of hiring new officers at the current rate of $22 per hour and suggested that offering better benefits and higher pay could attract more candidates.

Disbanding of Maple Lake Police Department

The police department in a Minnesota town called Maple Lake is being disbanded due to a lack of officers. The town will instead contract with the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services. This comes after a similar situation occurred in Morris, another Minnesota town, where the police department was disbanded last year due to staffing issues.