Pay Dispute Forces Entire Minnesota Police Department to Resign

The entire police department of a small town in southeastern Minnesota resigned en masse. This unprecedented move was triggered by a dispute over pay, leaving the town’s security apparatus in a state of disarray.

The Goodhue Police Department, a team that once served the town’s population of approximately 1,300 residents, is now non-existent.

The resignation included all ranks within the department, from the full-time officer to the five part-time employees, and even the police chief, Josh Smith.

The city council had convened with the intention of discussing potential salary increases for the department. However, before any decisions could be made, the entire team tendered their resignations.

This unexpected development left the council members and the town’s residents in a state of shock and uncertainty.

Minnesota – The Entire Goodhue Police Department Resigned over Low Payhttps://t.co/VJGS6PdRoc pic.twitter.com/ZIUtarff6b

— UltraMJTruth (@MJTruthUltra) August 16, 2023

Police Chief Josh Smith previously voiced his concerns at a city council meeting on July 26. He revealed there were no applicants for positions within the city’s police department.

Smith also disclosed that other law enforcement agencies were actively trying to recruit him and his colleagues.

His words were a stark warning to the council and the community, “Unless you guys do a dramatic change, you’re never going to see another person again walk through those doors.”

Despite these warnings, the city council failed to act promptly. The result was the mass resignation that occurred on August 9, as reported by the Associated Press. The officers, who were being paid $22 an hour, felt their concerns were not being addressed adequately.

Mayor Ellen Anderson Buck, in response to the crisis, stated, “Since the resignations have been handed in by our police department, it has been recommended by our city attorney that at this point we need to pursue our other options.”

She further added, “So, at this point, there’s no reason to really talk about pay increases since we no longer have a police force.”

An entire police department resigns in Minnesota and leaves the mayor with Zero applicants

Every single one of you dumb fucking liberals in your dumb fucking shit hole cities is getting EXACTLY what you voted for!

Dumbest people on earth!

— The Nasty Italian🍷🇺🇸 🇮🇹 (@sayitnspinit) August 15, 2023

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by small-town law enforcement agencies across the country.

It underscores the urgent need for local governments to address issues related to pay and working conditions, to ensure the retention of their police forces.

As the town of Goodhue grapples with this crisis, it remains to be seen how they will rebuild their police department and restore a sense of security among their residents.

This situation should serve as a wake-up call for other towns and cities, highlighting the importance of valuing and investing in their law enforcement agencies.

This article appeared in StatesmanPost and has been published here with permission.