Minnesota city faces complete police force resignation due to inadequate pay.
A Small Minnesota City Left in Disarray as Entire Police Force Resigns
A small Minnesota city was left blindsided after its entire police force resigned over issues with pay, leaving city officials scrambling for a solution. The shocking announcement was made at a city council meeting on Monday night.
The city of Goodhue, Minnesota, home to over 1,200 residents, was hit hard when the chief, one full-time officer, and five part-time employees all tendered their resignations on Friday. Despite their decision, the officers will continue to serve until August 24.
“I think we’re all a little bit blindsided by it, but we’re resilient, and we’re going to move forward,” said Goodhue Mayor Ellen Anderson Buck. “I want to reiterate that we will have police coverage in the city of Goodhue. That is not an issue.”
The council meeting was originally scheduled to discuss pay raises for the officers, but the resignations came before any discussions could take place. In response, the city attorney advised exploring alternative options.
While town officials search for replacements, the city plans to rely on deputies from the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement coverage.
Police Chief Josh Smith had previously warned the city about its low pay and the competition from larger cities. According to Smith, the city was offering $22 an hour, which was not competitive compared to other small forces offering $30 an hour.
“This has been three weeks now, we have zero applicants, and I have zero prospects,” Smith expressed during a city meeting on July 26. “If you want to keep the PD and this is something we want to continue going with, something needs to change dramatically and drastically, and it’s got to happen now.”
Goodhue is not the only small city in Minnesota facing law enforcement challenges. The community of Morris, Minnesota, lost its police force last year and now relies on the county’s sheriff’s office for assistance.
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