United States | Country cops

Small towns and rural parts of America have a policing problem

Difficulty recruiting and retaining officers means that the number of police departments is shrinking

Field work
|THOMASTON, MAINE

“THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW”, one of the most popular television programmes during the 1960s, was about a small town’s sensible and empathetic sheriff. It would be difficult to reboot today. The loyal deputy position would have a high turnover rate and the sheriff would consider resigning for a job with family health insurance. The town council, meanwhile, would debate disbanding the police department altogether.

This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Country cops”

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